Abstract
The uptake of phosphate by benthic communities, dominated by living algae, previously exposed to different levels of external nutrient loading, exhibited first-order kinetics with respect to the intracellular P-deficit. This deficit is the difference between the maximum and the actual intracellular P-concentration. The maximum storage capacity of P per unit of dry weight was positively correlated to the level of external nutrient loading, whereas the phosphate uptake rate constant was negatively correlated. The observed internal P concentrations in the benthic layer of test ditches over a period of two and a half years, indicated a slight decrease towards a minimum value in a ditch with a low external P-input. In a medium loaded ditch the internal P-concentration did not change significantly. In a high loaded ditch increasing internal P-concentrations over time were observed, towards P-saturation of the benthic community.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 349-358 |
Journal | Hydrobiologia |
Volume | 275-276 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1994 |
Keywords
- benthic algae
- eutrophication
- intracellular P
- luxury uptake
- phosphate