Studies on the phytoplankton ecology of the Trondheimsfjord. I. The chemical composition of phytoplankton populations
Haug, A.; Myklestad, S., Sverre; Sakshaug, E. (1973). Studies on the phytoplankton ecology of the Trondheimsfjord. I. The chemical composition of phytoplankton populations. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 11(1): 15-26
In: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Elsevier: New York. ISSN 0022-0981; e-ISSN 1879-1697, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Haug, A.
- Myklestad, S.
- Sakshaug, E.
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| Abstract |
Samples of phytoplankton populations from the Trondheimsfjord, collected in 1970 and the first 5 months of 1971, have been analysed for carbohydrate, protein, lipid, and phosphorus. Lipid was in all cases <10% of the organic dry matter. The N/P ratio was remarkably constant, but the ratio protein/carbohydrate varied between wide limits. For samples consisting mainly of dinoflagellates, the protein/carbohydrate ratio was always low, due to a large amount of insoluble polysaccharides, probably corresponding to material in the cell walls. For diatoms, the carbohydrates may conveniently be divided into 3 fractions: (1) an acid-soluble glucan of the beta -1, 3-linked type; (2) an alkali-soluble fraction giving a complex mixture of monosaccharides on hydrolysis and, (3) an insoluble glucan. The amounts of acid-soluble glucan varied from 7.7 to 36.5% of organic dry matter and these changes are the main cause of the variation of the protein/carbohydrate ratio of diatom samples. For diatom samples this ratio is a valuable indicator of the physiological state of the population. The variations observed in this study are discussed. |
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