Experiments on nutrient limitations in bottles

• Published in: Journal of plankton research Vol. 20; no. 8; pp. 1527 - 1538
• Main Authors: Cushing, D H, Horwood, J W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.08.1998
• ISSN: 0142-7873

A simple model is used to illustrate the character of production, within an incubation bottle subject to addition of a potentially limiting nutrient, over time periods long relative to the algal dynamics (1-10 days). Grazing by microheterotrophs significantly affects algal and nutrient dynamics, and production reflects the integration over time of grazing and nutrient-regulated growth. Greater production is found with increased nutrient, but this increase continues into the region of luxuriant nutrient. Increased production per se cannot be used to determine whether a nutrient is limiting.