Lack of P-limitation of phytoplankton and heterotrophic prokaryotes in surface waters of three anticyclonic eddies in the stratified Mediterranean Sea

0360249 - BC 2012 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Tanaka, T. - Thingstad, T. F. - Christaki, U. - Colombet, J. - Cornet-Barthaux, V. - Courties, C. - Grattepanche, J.-D. - Lagaria, A. - Nedoma, Jiří - Oriol, L. - Psarra, S. - Pujo-Pay, M. - Van Wambeke, F.
Lack of P-limitation of phytoplankton and heterotrophic prokaryotes in surface waters of three anticyclonic eddies in the stratified Mediterranean Sea.
Biogeosciences. Roč. 8, č. 2 (2011), s. 525-538. ISSN 1726-4170. E-ISSN 1726-4189
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60170517
Keywords : P-limitation * Mediterranean Sea
Subject RIV: DA - Hydrology ; Limnology
Impact factor: 3.859, year: 2011

We investigated the identity of the limiting nutrient of the pelagic microbial food web in the Mediterranean Sea using nutrient manipulated microcosms during summer 2008. Temporal changes of turnover time of phosphate and ATP, and alkaline phosphatase activity during the incubation suggested that the phytoplankton and heterotrophic prokaryotes communities were not P-limited at the sites. In contrast, primary production was consistently limited by N, and procaryote growth was not limited by N nor P in the Western Basin, but N-limited in the Ionian Basin, and N and P co-limited in the Levantine Basin. Our results demonstrated the gap between biogeochemical features (an apparent P-starved status) and biological responses (no apparent P-limitation).
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0197845