Abstract
Some methods to identify nutrient deficiencies in natural populations of algae are described. A bloom of the cyanobacteriumMicrocystis aeruginosa in Lake Brielle, The Netherlands, is taken as example of a natural situation. Some results obtained from continuous cultures ofM. aeruginosa contribute to the understanding of the characteristics of the natural population. Attention is paid to nutrient levels of the lake, pigment contents and N:P ratio of the algal population, the primary productivity and the uptake kinetics of nitrate and ammonia. The natural algal population of the lake showed a preferential use of ammonia. It is assumed that the growth-limiting factor forM. aeruginosa under the prevailing temperature is light.
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