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Liberation of Extracellular Products of Photosynthesis by Tropical Phytoplankton

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

S. Samuel
Affiliation:
Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Ernakulam, Cochin-i6, Kerala, India
N. M. Shah
Affiliation:
Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Ernakulam, Cochin-i6, Kerala, India
G. E. Fogg
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, Westfield College, London, NW3 7ST

Extract

Using 14C as a tracer in experiments of 2–3 h duration it has been demonstrated, both with individual species in culture and natural populations, that marine phytoplankton from tropical inshore waters releases products of photosynthesis insoluble extracellular form. The relative extent of this excretion varied between 1% and 20% of the total carbon fixed but on any particular occasion the amount of extracellular products was approximately proportional to the amount ofphotosynthesis which had taken place. An inverse relation-ship between relative extent of excretion and phytoplankton abundance as measured by chlorophyllα concentration was found, in agreement with the results of previous workers. The relative extent of excretion did not appear to be greatly different in brackish water of 12–3% salinity from that in ordinary sea water.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1971

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