Comparison of bacterial and algal utilization of orthophosphate in an estuarine environment

Abstract

Bacterial utilization of orthophosphate in an estuarine environment has been differentiated from algal utilization by using flow-filters of 5.0, 1.2 and 0.45 μm poresize. Examination by light microscopy showed that most of the bacterial population passed through a 5.0-μm filter, whereas most algae were retained. In all experiments, bacterial and algal cell numbers and biomass were estimated. P-uptake by algae and bacteria was closely correlated with cell biomass. P-uptake by algae was high only in the summer months, whereas P-uptake by bacteria was high throughout the year. Neither algal nor bacterial P-uptake, however, was correlated with temperature or dissolved orthophosphate, total organic phosphate or total phosphate concentrations. Cell biomass of algae at a given time had a high correlation with dissolved organic phosphate levels in 2 weeks prior to sampling (r=0.830) and a low correlation in the 2 weeks following sampling (r=0.0005). Algal cell numbers had a high correlation with bacterial cell numbers (r=0.950). The biomass of algae and bacteria also had a high correlation (r=0.902). The rate of P-uptake from the water by algae and bacteria varied with season and with the species composition of the natural population.