Availability to Scenedesmus quadricauda of different forms of phosphorus in sedimentary materials from the Great Lakes1

Abstract

Sedimentary materials from eroding bluffs, suspended solids in streams, and lake bottom sediments from Lakes Ontario and Erie were cultured with the alga Scenedesmus quadricauda (Turp.) de Brébisson in modified Rodhe’s medium with the sediments as the sole source of P. P uptake by the algae was related to the amount of nonapatite inorganic phosphorus in the sediments. Apatite phosphorus was not used, and the bluff samples, in which over 90% of total P was in this form, did not support algal growth. The nonapatite inorganic P fraction was highly correlated with the amounts of inorganic phosphorus extracted by three standard techniques for estimating “available P” (extraction by NaOH and nitrilotriacetic acid solutions and by H‐resin) and cell uptake equaled NaOH‐extractable inorganic P in several instances. Uptake of P by the cells varied from 8 to 50% of total P and from 38 to 83% of nonapatite inorganic P when measured directly. Organic phosphorus in the sediments was not utilized by the algae. Percentage utilization of total P was in general highest when total P concentration in the sediments was itself high.