Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2010, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (6): 92-97.doi: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2010.06.092cstr: 32234.14.j.issn.1009-5470.2010.06.092

• Marine biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of N to P ratio on the growth of two red tide diatom Skeletonema costatum and Thalassiosira weissflogii

LIU Hao1,2, Gao Yong-li1, YIN Ke-dong1, YUAN Xiang-cheng1, XU Jie3, HARRISON Paul J 3   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Environmental Dynamics, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, CAS, Guangzhou 510301, China; 2. Graduate University of CAS, Beijing 100049, China; 3. Atmospheric, Marine and Coastal Environmental Program, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong
  • Received:2009-03-24 Revised:2009-08-26 Online:2010-12-15 Published:2010-12-15
  • Contact: 殷克东。 E-mail:kdyin@scsio.ac.cn
  • About author:刘皓(1981—), 男, 吉林省长春市人, 硕士研究生, 主要从事藻类生态及营养盐限制、细菌与藻类之间的作用方面的研究。E-mail: super-liu@hotmail.com
  • Supported by:

    中国科学院南海海洋所研究所前沿领域青年项目(SQ200815); 中国科学院、国家外国专家局创新团队国际合作伙伴计划

Abstract:

The growth character and ecophysiology of Skeletonema costatum and Thalassiosira weissflogii were studied in culture medium of different ambient ratios of N to P (4︰1, 16︰1, 64︰1). Bacth cultures of these two phytoplankton species were conducted to examine their growth rates, Chl-a, DIN︰P (dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus) and PON︰P (particular organic nitrogen and phosphorus) during incubation periods. The results showed that the N︰P ratio could signifi-cantly influence the growth of Skeletonema costatum and Thalassiosira weissflogii. The ratio of N to P could evidently influ-ence these two diatom species. The growth rate, cell numbers and Chl-a of these two species were obviously lower with N-limitation (N︰P=4︰1) than those with P-limitation (N︰P=64︰1). The results suggested that T. weissflogii was more sensitive to N-limitation than S. costatum. Although cultured in different N︰P ratios medium, the N︰P composition of these two algal species hardly changed with the medium N︰P ratio. Due to the luxury consumption, the cells could still take up excessive nutrients for living when other nutrients were depleted by phytoplankton, which resulted in different N︰P ratios of phytoplankton. N-limited medium reduced the N︰P ratio of the algal cells, while P-limited medium increased the N︰P ratio of the phytoplankton cells significantly.

Key words: N︰P ratio, Skeletonema costatum, Thalassiosira weissflogii, Nitrogen-limitation, Phosphorus-limitation