Ammonium Uptake Rates Research Articles

Recent phytoplankton productivity of the northern Bering Sea during early summer in 2007

Although the northern Bering Sea is one of the most productive regions in the northern North Pacific Ocean and currently considered a declining productivity region, no recent primary productivity measurements have been collected in this region. Phytoplankton productivity was measured in the northern Bering Sea in 2007 using a dual 13C–15N isotope tracer technique to quantify present rates of primary productivity and to assess changes under recent environmental conditions in this area. We found that large diatoms (mostly Fragilaria sp.) dominated the phytoplankton during the initial part of the cruise, whereas unidentified nano + pico phytoplankton largely dominated at the surface about 2 weeks later (at “revisited stations”). At the 1% light depth, diatoms and Phaeocystis sp. were the dominant species, whereas diatoms and unidentified nano + pico cells were dominant at the revisited sites. Based on nitrate and ammonium uptake rates, the estimated f-ratios (the ratio of nitrate uptake rate/nitrate + ammonium uptake rates of phytoplankton) were high (0.65–0.74), indicating that nitrate was an important nitrogen source supporting primary production in the northern Bering Sea during the cruise in 2007. Compared with previous studies performed several decades ago, we found significantly lower chlorophyll-a concentrations and carbon uptake rates of phytoplankton in the northern Bering Sea in 2007. This is consistent with recent studies that have shown lower rates of production in the Chukchi Sea and declines in benthic biomass and sediment oxygen uptake in the northern Bering Sea.

Inorganic nitrogen uptake kinetics and whole-plant nitrogen budget in the seagrass Zostera noltii

The uptake rates of ammonium and nitrate through the leaves and roots, the leaf–root interactions in the nitrogen uptake and the internal translocation of incorporated nitrogen were simultaneously investigated in the seagrass Zostera noltii. Leaf and root uptake rates, which were measured using two-compartment polyethylene chambers that physically separated the leaves from below-ground plant parts, were quantified based on tissue incorporation of 15N-labeled ammonium and nitrate. The maximum leaf uptake rates (V max) of ammonium were 100 times higher than those of nitrate. Both V max and affinity for ammonium were one order of magnitude higher in the leaves (28.3–31.9 μmol g −1 DW h −1 and 0.93–0.99, respectively) than in the roots (2.3–3.0 μmol g −1 DW h −1 and 0.06–0.08, respectively). The uptake of ammonium and nitrate by one plant part did not affect the uptake of the other plant part, and no translocation of inorganic nitrogen was detected between plant parts. The 15N enrichment detected in the rhizomes suggests either a direct uptake of inorganic nitrogen or its transference from the roots. The estimated total inorganic nitrogen uptake of Z. noltii (645 μmol m −2 h −1) in the peak production season (spring) under typical nutrient concentrations, using the rates obtained during the surge uptake phase, exceeded by 3-fold the species estimated nitrogen requirement for growth (236 μmol N m −2 h −1). However, using the stabilized values of the uptake rates obtained after several hours of incubation, the estimated whole-plant nitrogen budget (215 μmol m −2 h −1) was slightly lower than the total nitrogen requirement for growth. We conclude that the growth of Z. noltii in Ria Formosa lagoon is not limited, or is only slightly limited, by nitrogen.

Technical Note: A comparison of two empirical approaches to estimate in-stream net nutrient uptake

Abstract. To establish the relevance of in-stream processes on nutrient export at catchment scale it is important to accurately estimate whole-reach net nutrient uptake rates that consider both uptake and release processes. Two empirical approaches have been used in the literature to estimate these rates: (a) the mass balance approach, which considers changes in ambient nutrient loads corrected by groundwater inputs between two stream locations separated by a certain distance, and (b) the spiralling approach, which is based on the patterns of longitudinal variation in ambient nutrient concentrations along a reach following the nutrient spiralling concept. In this study, we compared the estimates of in-stream net nutrient uptake rates of nitrate (NO3) and ammonium (NH4) and the associated uncertainty obtained with these two approaches at different ambient conditions using a data set of monthly samplings in two contrasting stream reaches during two hydrological years. Overall, the rates calculated with the mass balance approach tended to be higher than those calculated with the spiralling approach only at high ambient nitrogen (N) concentrations. Uncertainty associated with these estimates also differed between both approaches, especially for NH4 due to the general lack of significant longitudinal patterns in concentration. The advantages and disadvantages of each of the approaches are discussed.

Exogenous calcium affects nitrogen metabolism in root-zone hypoxia-stressed muskmelon roots and enhances short-term hypoxia tolerance

We investigated the effects of short-term root-zone hypoxic stress and exogenous calcium application or deficiency in an anoxic nutrient solution on nitrogen metabolism in the roots of the muskmelon cultivar Xiyu No. 1. Seedlings grown in the nutrient solution under hypoxic stress for 6 d displayed significantly reduced plant growth and soluble protein concentrations. However, NO 3 − uptake rate and activities of nitrate reductase and glutamate synthase were significantly increased. We also found higher amounts of nitrate, ammonium, amino acids, heat-stable proteins, polyamines, H 2O 2, as well as higher polyamine oxidase activity in the roots. In comparison to the reactions seen under hypoxic stress, exogenous calcium application led to a marked increase in plant weights, photosynthesis parameters, NO 3 − uptake rate and contents of nitrate, ammonium, amino acids (e.g., glutamic acid, proline, glycine, cystine, γ-aminobutyric acid), soluble and heat-stable proteins, free spermine, and insoluble bound polyamines. Meanwhile, exogenous calcium application resulted in significantly increased activities for nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase, and glutamate synthase but decreased activities for diamine and polyamine oxidase, as well as lower H 2O 2 content in roots during exposure to hypoxia. However, calcium deficiency in the nutrient solution decreased plant weight, photosynthesis parameters, NO 3 − reduction, amino acids (e.g., alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid), protein, all polyamines except for free putrescine, and the activities of glutamate synthase and glutamine synthetase. Additionally, there was an increase in the NO 3 − uptake rate, polyamine oxidase activity and H 2O 2 contents under hypoxia–Ca. Simultaneously, exogenous calcium had little effect on nitrate absorption and transformation, photosynthetic parameters, and plant growth under normoxic conditions. These results suggest that calcium confers short-term hypoxia tolerance in muskmelon, most likely by promoting nitrate uptake and accelerating its transformation into amino acids, heat-stable proteins or polyamines, as well as by decreasing polyamine degradation in muskmelon seedlings.

Depression of Ammonia Uptake to Sulfuric Acid Aerosols by Competing Uptake of Ambient Organic Gases

The neutralization of acidic aerosols by ammonia has been studied through experiments which combine ambient air with laboratory generated sulfuric acid aerosol. Results indicated that acidic aerosol mixed with organic free air and ammonia was neutralized on a time scale<1 min, consistent with expectations. However, in the presence of ambient organic gases and ammonia, the rate of aerosol neutralization is significantly reduced. This reduction in ammonia uptake was concurrent with an increase in the amount of particle phase organics. A steady state in the NH4+/SO4(2-) in the presence of organic gases was established on time scales of 10 min to several hours, corresponding to NH3 uptake coefficients in the range of 4×10(-3)-2×10(-4). The degree to which neutralization was slowed was dependent upon the initial ammonia concentration and the organic mass added to the aerosols. These results suggest that inorganic equilibrium thermodynamic models may overestimate the rate of ammonia uptake and that ambient particles may remain acidic for longer than previously expected.

A novel clade of Prochlorococcus found in high nutrient low chlorophyll waters in the South and Equatorial Pacific Ocean

A novel high-light (HL)-adapted Prochlorococcus clade was discovered in high nutrient and low chlorophyll (HNLC) waters in the South Pacific Ocean by phylogenetic analyses of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. This clade, named HNLC fell within the HL-adapted Prochlorococcus clade with sequences above 99% similarity to one another, and was divided into two subclades, HNLC1 and HNLC2. The distribution of the whole HNLC clade in a northwest to southeast transect in the South Pacific (HNLC-to-gyre) and two 8°N to 8°S transects in the Equatorial Pacific was determined by quantitative PCR using specific primers targeting ITS regions. HNLC was the dominant HL Prochlorococcus clade (2-9% of bacterial 16S rRNA genes) at the three westernmost stations in the South Pacific but decreased to less than 0.1% at the other stations being replaced by the eMIT9312 ecotype in the hyperoligotrophic gyre. The highest contributions of HNLC Prochlorococcus in both Equatorial Pacific transects along the latitudinal lines of 170°W and 155°W were observed at the southernmost stations, reaching 16 and 6% of bacterial 16S rRNA genes, respectively, whereas eMIT9312 dominated near the Equator. Spearman Rank Order correlation analysis indicated that although both the HNLC clade and eMIT9312 were correlated with temperature, they showed different correlations with regard to nutrients. HNLC only showed significant correlations to ammonium uptake and regeneration rates, whereas eMIT9312 was negatively correlated with inorganic nutrients.

Inorganic nitrogen uptake and related enzymatic activity in the seagrass Zostera noltii

The preferential inorganic nitrogen source for the seagrass Zostera noltii was investigated in plants from Ria Formosa, South Portugal. Rates of ammonium and nitrate uptake were determined at different concentrations of these nutrients (5, 25 and 50 μm), supplied simultaneously (NH4NO3) or separately (KNO3 and NH4Cl). The activity of the enzymes nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) was also assessed. The results showed that ammonium is the preferential inorganic nitrogen source for Z. noltii, but, in the absence of ammonium, the species also has a high nitrate uptake capacity. The simultaneous availability of both inorganic nitrogen forms enhanced the uptake rate of ammonium and decreased the uptake rate of nitrate compared to when only one of the nitrogen forms was supplied. The activity of both enzymes was much higher in the leaves than in the roots, highlighting the importance of the leaves as primary reducing sites in the nitrogen assimilation process.

Influence of ammonium and nitrate supply on growth, dry matter partitioning, N uptake and photosynthetic capacity of Pinus radiata seedlings

Growth and physiological responses of Pinus radiata D. Don seedlings to a combination of N supply regimes (low N = 1.78 mol m−3, high N = 7.14 mol m−3) and ammonium:nitrate ratios (80:20, 50:50 and 20:80; molar basis) were assessed in a hydroponic experiment run over the course of 105 days. Highly significant (P < 0.001) increases in seedling diameter, height, leaf area and dry mass occurred at lower ammonium:nitrate ratios and were two to fourfold greater than the non-significant (for diameter) to marginally significant (P < 0.05 for other dimensions) increases in these dimensions that occurred with greater N supply. Increases in N supply resulted in a highly significant (P < 0.001) reduction in biomass partitioning to roots and highly significant (P < 0.001) increases in allocation to foliage. The ammonium:nitrate ratio was not found to significantly change biomass partitioning to either foliage, stems or roots. Ammonium and nitrate uptake was significantly influenced by N supply and N form and conformed to ammonium and nitrate concentrations in nutrient solution. Uptake rates of ammonium were twice those of nitrate at comparable concentrations suggesting that P. radiata is in the lower end of the ratio of uptake of ammonium to nitrate reported for conifers (range from 2 to 20 mol mol−1). Despite this, plants growing in high ammonium:nitrate ratios were smaller, exhibited luxurious N consumption and lower N use efficiency. Differences in productivity among treatments were partially explained by greater rates of light-saturated photosynthesis associated with nitrate nutrition.

Nitrogen Uptake in the Northeastern Arabian Sea during Winter Cooling

The uptake of dissolved inorganic nitrogen by phytoplankton is an important aspect of the nitrogen cycle of oceans. Here, we present nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+) uptake rates in the northeastern Arabian Sea using 15N tracer technique. In this relatively underexplored region, productivity is high during winter due to supply of nutrients by convective mixing caused by the cooling of the surface by the northeast monsoon winds. Studies done during different months (January and late February-early March) of the northeast monsoon 2003 revealed a fivefold increase in the average euphotic zone integrated NO3- uptake from January (2.3 mmolN m−2d−1) to late February-early March (12.7 mmolN m−2d−1). The f-ratio during January appeared to be affected by the winter cooling effect and increased by more than 50% from the southernmost station to the northern open ocean stations, indicating hydrographic and meteorological control. Estimates of NO3- residence time suggested that NO3- entrained in the water column during January contributed to the development of blooms during late February-early March.

Uptake and resource allocation of ammonium and nitrate in temperate seagrasses Posidonia and Amphibolis

Ecologically relevant estimates of seasonal variability in nitrogen uptake and allocation in two species of temperate seagrasses were obtained using in situ isotope-labelling approach. Significantly higher uptake rates of ammonium by leaves, roots and epiphytes of Amphibolis than Posidonia were observed. Overall, root uptake rates were lower than other components. Effect of season was not significant for leaves, roots or epiphytes of the two species. However, plankton uptake varied seasonally with higher rates in winter (0.98mgNg−1DWh−1). In contrast, nitrate uptake rates for various components were significantly affected by seasons. Uptake rates by plankton were highest ranging from 0.003mgNg−1DWh−1 (summer, Amphibolis) to 0.69mgNg−1DWh−1 (winter, Posidonia). Uptake of nitrate by roots was negligible. Biotic uptake rates for nitrate were an order of magnitude slower than ammonium, demonstrating an affinity for ammonium over nitrate as a preferred inorganic nitrogen source. Adelaide coastal waters have lost over 5000ha of seagrasses, much of this attributed to nutrient inputs from wastewater, industrial and stormwater. Managing these inputs into future requires better understanding of the fate of nutrients, particularly biological uptake. This study attempts to quantify uptake rates of nitrogen by seagrasses.

Functional characterization of Rhesus glycoproteins from an ammoniotelic teleost, the rainbow trout, using oocyte expression and SIET analysis

Recent experimental evidence from rainbow trout suggests that gill ammonia transport may be mediated in part via Rhesus (Rh) glycoproteins. In this study we analyzed the transport properties of trout Rh proteins (Rhag, Rhbg1, Rhbg2, Rhcg1, Rhcg2, Rh30-like) expressed in Xenopus oocytes, using the radiolabeled ammonia analogue [(14)C]methylamine, and the scanning ion electrode technique (SIET). All of the trout Rh proteins, except Rh30-like, facilitated methylamine uptake. Uptake was saturable, with K(m) values ranging from 4.6 to 8.9 mmol l(-1). Raising external pH from 7.5 to 8.5 resulted in 3- to 4-fold elevations in J(max) values for methylamine; K(m) values were unchanged when expressed as total or protonated methylamine. Efflux of methylamine was also facilitated in Rh-expressing oocytes. Efflux and influx rates were stimulated by a pH gradient, with higher rates observed with steeper H(+) gradients. NH(4)Cl inhibited methylamine uptake in oocytes expressing Rhbg1 or Rhcg2. When external pH was elevated from 7.5 to 8.5, the K(i) for ammonia against methylamine transport was 35-40% lower when expressed as total ammonia or NH(4)(+), but 5- to 6-fold higher when expressed as NH(3). With SIET we confirmed that ammonia uptake was facilitated by Rhag and Rhcg2, but not Rh30-like proteins. Ammonia uptake was saturable, with a comparable J(max) but lower K(m) value than for total or protonated methylamine. At low substrate concentrations, the ammonia uptake rate was greater than that of methylamine. The K(m) for total ammonia (560 micromol l(-1)) lies within the physiological range for trout. The results are consistent with a model whereby NH(4)(+) initially binds, but NH(3) passes through the Rh channels. We propose that Rh glycoproteins in the trout gill are low affinity, high capacity ammonia transporters that exploit the favorable pH gradient formed by the acidified gill boundary layer in order to facilitate rapid ammonia efflux when plasma ammonia concentrations are elevated.

Evolutionary tradeoffs among nutrient acquisition, cell size, and grazing defense in marine phytoplankton promote ecosystem stability

To survive, an algal species must maximize its reproduction rate via efficient nutrient acquisition and assimilation while minimizing rates of mortality from grazing or other sources. In a survey of 11 well studied marine algal species (including 3 racial variants of a single species, Emilia- nia huxleyi) in ammonium-limited cyclostat cultures, we observed variations in ammonium uptake rates and associated growth rates, which were linked to cell size and, apparently, also to grazing defense. The 5 largest species (10-12 µm cell diameter) had similar low ammonium uptake rates and associated ammonium-limited growth rates owing to diffusion limitation of uptake. Diffusive flux per unit of cell volume decreases with the inverse square of the cell diameter; hence, cells can minimize diffusion limitation and increase nutrient uptake by becoming smaller. However, this comes at the cost of higher susceptibility to grazing mortality. The 7 smallest isolates (2.7-4.6 µm diameter) had higher rates of ammonium uptake and growth as predicted from theory, but there was considerable variation for similarly sized cells. All 4 of the small algal species or isolates that are known to be poorly grazed or poorly assimilated by grazers had unusually low ammonium uptake rates and asso- ciated growth rates for their size, which we hypothesize to be due to the high cost of grazing defense. The results suggest the existence of evolutionary tradeoffs between large cell size and grazing defenses (which decrease grazing mortality) and small size and minimal defenses (which promote growth and reproduction). Such tradeoffs could increase the species diversity of algal communities, which in turn promotes ecosystem stability.

Influence of the C/N ratio on the performance of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) producing sequencing batch reactors at short SRTs

Many waste streams that are suitable substrates for mixed culture bioplastic (polyhydroxyalkanoate, PHA) production are nutrient limited and may need to be supplemented to allow sufficient growth of PHA accumulating bacteria. The scope of this study was to investigate the necessity of nutrient supplementation for the enrichment of an efficient PHA producing mixed culture. We studied the influence of different degrees of carbon and nitrogen limitation on the performance of an acetate-fed feast–famine sequencing batch reactor (SBR) employed to enrich PHA storing bacteria. The microbial reaction rates in the SBR showed a shift with a change in the limiting substrate: high acetate uptake rates were found in carbon-limited SBRs (medium C/N ratios 6–13.2 Cmol/Nmol), while nitrogen-limited SBRs (medium C/N ratios 15–24 Cmol/Nmol) were characterized by high ammonia uptake rates. Biomass in strongly nitrogen-limited SBRs had higher baseline PHA contents in the SBR, but carbon-limited SBRs resulted usually in biomass with higher maximal PHA storage capacities. The PHA storage capacity in a nitrogen-limited SBR operated at 0.5 d SRT decreased significantly over less than 5 months operation. For the microbial selection and biomass production stage of a PHA production process carbon limitation seems thus favourable and nutrient deficient wastewaters may consequently require supplementation with nutrients for the selection of a stable PHA storing biomass with a high storage capacity.

Nitrogen uptake and regeneration pathways in the equatorial Pacific: a basin scale modeling study

Abstract. It is well known that most primary production is fueled by regenerated nitrogen in the open ocean. Therefore, studying the nitrogen cycle by focusing on uptake and regeneration pathways would advance our understanding of nitrogen dynamics in the marine ecosystem. Here, we carry out a basin-scale modeling study, by assessing model simulations of nitrate and ammonium, and rates of nitrate uptake, ammonium uptake and regeneration in the equatorial Pacific. Model-data comparisons show that the model is able to reproduce many observed features of nitrate, ammonium, such as the deep ammonium maximum (DAM). The model also reproduces the observed de-coupling of ammonium uptake and regeneration, i.e., regeneration rate greater than uptake rate in the lower euphotic zone. The de-coupling largely explains the observed DAM in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Our study indicates that zooplankton excretion and remineralization of organic nitrogen play a different role in nitrogen regeneration. Rates of zooplankton excretion vary from &lt;0.01 mmol m−3 d−1 to 0.1 mmol m−3 d−1 in the upper euphotic zone while rates of remineralization fall within a narrow range (0.015–0.025 mmol m−3 d−1 . Zooplankton excretion contributes up to 70% of total ammonium regeneration in the euphotic zone, and is largely responsible for the spatial variability of nitrogen regeneration. However, remineralization provides a steady supply of ammonium in the upper ocean, and is a major source of inorganic nitrogen for the oligotrophic regions. Overall, ammonium generation and removal are approximately balanced over the top 150 m in the equatorial Pacific.

Principles of interaction of ammonium ion with natural Jordanian deposits: Analysis of uptake studies

Ammonium ion removal from aqueous solution by Petra clay minerals has been established. To study the efficiency of the Petra clay as sorbent, the effect of relevant parameters, such as temperature, contact time, pH and initial ammonium (NH4+) concentration were examined. Kinetics experiments were also done at different parameters. The pseudo first-order, pseudo second-order kinetic models and intra-particle diffusion model were used to describe the kinetic data. The pseudo second-order kinetic model provided excellent data fitting (R2>0.99), and the rate constant for sorption was predicted. Activation energy of sorption has also evaluated as 22.60kJ/mol based on the pseudo second-order rate constants, the findings of this investigation suggest that physical sorption plays a role in controlling the sorption rate. Ammonium uptake rate was controlled by particle diffusion at different variables.

Nitrification and denitrification in a midwestern stream containing high nitrate: in situ assessment using tracers in dome-shaped incubation chambers

The extent to which in-stream processes alter or remove nutrient loads in agriculturally impacted streams is critically important to watershed function and the delivery of those loads to coastal waters. In this study, patch-scale rates of in-stream benthic processes were determined using large volume, open-bottom benthic incubation chambers in a nitrate-rich, first to third order stream draining an area dominated by tile-drained row-crop fields. The chambers were fitted with sampling/mixing ports, a volume compensation bladder, and porewater samplers. Incubations were conducted with added tracers (NaBr and either 15N[NO3−], 15N[NO2−], or 15N[NH4+]) for 24–44 h intervals and reaction rates were determined from changes in concentrations and isotopic compositions of nitrate, nitrite, ammonium and nitrogen gas. Overall, nitrate loss rates (220–3,560 μmol N m−2 h−1) greatly exceeded corresponding denitrification rates (34–212 μmol N m−2 h−1) and both of these rates were correlated with nitrate concentrations (90–1,330 μM), which could be readily manipulated with addition experiments. Chamber estimates closely matched whole-stream rates of denitrification and nitrate loss using 15N. Chamber incubations with acetylene indicated that coupled nitrification/denitrification was not a major source of N2 production at ambient nitrate concentrations (175 μM), but acetylene was not effective for assessing denitrification at higher nitrate concentrations (1,330 μM). Ammonium uptake rates greatly exceeded nitrification rates, which were relatively low even with added ammonium (3.5 μmol N m−2 h−1), though incubations with nitrite demonstrated that oxidation to nitrate exceeded reduction to nitrogen gas in the surface sediments by fivefold to tenfold. The chamber results confirmed earlier studies that denitrification was a substantial nitrate sink in this stream, but they also indicated that dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) turnover rates greatly exceeded the rates of permanent nitrogen removal via denitrification.

Primary productivity, bacterial productivity and nitrogen uptake in response to iron enrichment during the SEEDS II

Abstract Primary productivity (PP), bacterial productivity (BP) and the uptake rates of nitrate and ammonium were measured using isotopic methods ( 13 C, 3 H, 15 N) during a mesoscale iron (Fe)-enrichment experiment conducted in the western subarctic Pacific Ocean in 2004 (SEEDS II). PP increased following Fe enrichment, reached maximal rates 12 days after the enrichment, and then declined to the initial level on day 17. During the 23-day observation period, we observed the development and decline of the Fe-induced bloom. The surface mixed layer (SML) integrated PP increased by 3-fold, but was smaller than the 5-fold increase observed in the previous Fe-enrichment experiment conducted at almost the same location and season during 2001 (SEEDS). Nitrate uptake rates were enhanced by Fe enrichment but decreased after day 5, and became lower than ammonium uptake rates after day 17. The total nitrogenous nutrient uptake rate declined after the peak of the bloom, and accumulation of ammonium was obvious in the euphotic layer. Nitrate utilization accounted for all the requirements of N for the massive bloom development during SEEDS, whereas during SEEDS II, nitrate accounted for >90% of total N utilization on day 5, declining to 40% by the end of the observation period. The SML-integrated BP increased after day 2 and peaked twice on days 8 and 21. Ammonium accumulation and the delayed heterotrophic activity suggested active regeneration occurred after the peak of the bloom. The SML-integrated PP between days 0 and 23 was 19.0 g C m −2 . The SML-integrated BP during the same period was 2.6 g C m −2 , which was 14% of the SML-integrated PP. Carbon budget calculation for the whole experimental period indicated that 33% of the whole (particulate plus dissolved) PP (21.5 g C m −2 ) was exported below the SML and 18% was transferred to the meso-zooplankton (growth). The bacterial carbon consumption (43% of the whole PP) was supported by DOC or POC release from phytoplankton, zooplankton, protozoa and viruses. More than a half (56%) of the whole PP in the Fe patch was consumed within the SML by respiration of heterotrophic organisms and returned to CO 2 .

Ammonium uptake and growth models in marine diatoms: Monod and Droop revisited

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 386:29-41 (2009) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08077 Ammonium uptake and growth models in marine diatoms: Monod and Droop revisited W. G. Sunda*, K. W. Shertzer, D. R. Hardison Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research, NOAA, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516, USA *Email: bill.sunda@noaa.gov ABSTRACT: Mathematical models are a useful tool for predicting the responses of marine phytoplankton to changes in nutrient inputs and other environmental factors. Two modeling approaches—Monod and Droop—have been traditionally used. These 2 model types were fitted to empirical data for specific growth rate, cellular N:C ratio, cellular ammonium uptake rate, and ammonium concentration measured in N-limited cyclostats at different dilution rates and in nutrient-saturated batch cultures. The modeled data were for a small, fast-growing coastal diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana (~4.5 µm diameter) and for a larger, slower growing diatom T. weissflogii (~11 µm diameter) cultured in seawater medium at 20°C and 14 h d–1 of light. The observed data did not conform well to the classic Monod equation, but could be fit to a modification of this equation in which the maximum growth rate was assigned a value higher than the observed maximum rate. Likewise, data for cellular N uptake rate versus ammonium concentration did not conform well to the standard saturation equation, but could be fit to a modification of the equation in which the maximum uptake rate was set above the empirically measured value and the x-intercept was shifted from the origin to a finite positive value. Both modified models accurately fit the observed steady-state relationships between ammonium concentrations and specific growth rates of the 2 species. However, the 2 models showed different transient dynamics in response to a change in the concentration of inflowing nutrients in time-course simulations. Such differences suggest that the choice between Droop and Monod approaches, when used as part of larger food web models, could lead to widely divergent predictions of algal blooms and other nonequilibrium dynamics of ecosystems. KEY WORDS: Ammonium · Model · Nutrient uptake · Growth rate · Phytoplankton · Diatom · Monod · Droop Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Sunda WG, Shertzer KW, Hardison DR (2009) Ammonium uptake and growth models in marine diatoms: Monod and Droop revisited. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 386:29-41. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08077 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 386. Online publication date: July 02, 2009 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2009 Inter-Research.

Effects of Heavy Metals on the Specific Ammonia and Nitrate Uptake Rates in Activated Sludge

Abstract Toxicity of heavy metals on activated sludge has already been considered as an important factor in the biological nutrient removal (BNR) system. This study identified the inhibition of nit...

Growth, uptake, and assimilation of ammonium, nitrate, and urea, by three strains of Karenia brevis grown under low light

Observations of near-bottom populations of Karenia brevis suggest that these cells may derive nutrients from the sediment–water interface. Cells undergoing a metabolic-mediated migration may be in close proximity to enhanced concentrations of nutrients associated with the sediment during at least a fraction of their diel cycle. In this study, the growth, uptake and assimilation rates of ammonium, nitrate, and urea by K. brevis were examined on a diel basis to better understand the potential role of these nutrients in the near-bottom ecology of this species . Three strains of K. brevis, C6, C3, and CCMP 2229, were grown under 12:12 light dark cycle under 30 μmol photons m −2 s −1 delivered to the surface plain of batch cultures. Nitrogen uptake was evaluated using 15N tracer techniques and trichloroacetic acid extraction was used to evaluate the quantity of nitrogen (N) assimilated into cell protein. Growth rates ranged from a low of 0.12 divisions day −1 for C6 and C3 grown on nitrate to a high of 0.18 divisions day −1 for C3 grown on urea. Diurnal maximum uptake rates, ρ max, varied from 0.41 pmol-N cell −1 h −1 for CCMP 2229 grown on nitrate, to 1.29 pmol-N cell −1 h −1 for CCMP 2229 grown on urea. Average nocturnal uptake rates were 29% of diurnal rates for nitrate, 103% of diurnal uptake rates for ammonium and 56% of diurnal uptake rates for urea. Uptake kinetic parameters varied between substrates, between strains and between day and night measurements. Highest maximum uptake rates were found for urea for strains CCMP2229 and C3 and for ammonium for strain C6. Rates of asmilation into protein also varied day and night, but overall were highest for urea. The comparison of maximal uptake rates as well as assimilation efficiencies indicate that ammonium and urea are utilized (taken up and assimilated) more than twice was fast as nitrate on a diel basis.