Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Diel photosynthetic production of cellular organic matter in natural phytoplankton populations, measured with13C and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

II. Fatty acids and amino acids

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Production of 7 fatty acids and 13 amino acids of phytoplankton from Kinu-ura Bay, Japan, was determined in 1984 by 24-h time-series experiments, using a combined13C and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method. The data were compared with the net increase in carbon of these compounds with time, and the specific production of these organic components was calculated. Production of total amino acids attained a maximum rate between 9:00 and 12:00 hrs, while a decrease in this rate was observed between 12:00 and 15:00 hrs, when production rate of total fatty acids was maximum. These changes appeared to be caused by the nitrogen deficiency which occurred during this period. Increase in the relative proportion of 16:0 and 16:1 fatty acids to total fatty acids was observed, while decrease of 18:2 and 18:3 fatty acids in the photosynthetic products was noted at 12:00 hrs. No systematic diel change was observed in the amino acid composition of photosynthetic products throughout the incubation period. The specific production rates of fatty acids and amino acids were less than those of water-extractable carbohydrates even after day-night incubation. Such differences were most likely due to nitrogen deficiency in phytoplankton cells. Photosynthetic production of each organic compound estimated by the combined13C and GC/MS method generally accounted for ca. 70 to 80% of its net increase in organic carbon. Other sources of carbon were assumed to be related to the net increase in these compounds.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Antia, N. J., McAllister, C. D., Parsons, T. R., Stephens, K., Strickland, J. D. H. (1963). Further measurements of primary production using a large-volume plastic sphere. Limnol. Oceanogr. 8: 166–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, R. G. (1982a). Phytoplankton ecology in the Southern Benguela current. II. Carbon assimilation patterns. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 63: 229–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, R. G. (1982b). Phytoplankton ecology in the Southern Benguela current. III. Dynamics of a bloom. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 63: 239–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, R. G. (1984a). Physiological responses of phytoplankton to turbulent and stable environments in an upwelling region. J. Plankton Res. 6: 385–397

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, R. G. (1984b). Time-series uptake of carbon into photosynthetic products of Benguela phytoplankton populations. J. Plankton Res. 6: 435–442

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Amotz, A., Tornabene T. G., Thomas, W. H. (1985). Chemical profile of selected species of microalgae with emphasis on lipids. J. Phycol. 21: 72–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cuhel, R. L., Ortner, P. B., Lean, D. R. S. (1984). Night synthesis of protein by algae. Limnol. Oceanogr. 29: 731–744

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eppley, R. W. (1981). Relations between nutrient assimilation and growth in phytoplankton with a brief review of estimates of growth rate in the ocean. In: Platt, T. (ed.) Physiological bases of phytoplankton ecology. Can. Bull. Fish. aquat. Sciences 210: 251–263

  • Eppley, R. W., Sloan, P. R. (1965). Carbon balance experiments with marine phytoplankton. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 22: 1083–1097

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gieskes, W. W., Kraay, G. W. (1984). State-of-the-art in the measurement of primary production. In: Fasham, M. J. R. (ed.) Flows of energy and materials in marine ecosystems, theory and practice. Plenum Press, New York, p. 171–190

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hama, J., Handa, N. (1992). Diel photosynthetic production of cellular organic matter in natural phytoplankton populations, measured with13C and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. I. Monosaccharides. Mar. Biol. 112: 175–181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hama, T. (1988).13C-GC-MS analysis of photosynthetic products of the phytoplankton population in the regional upwelling area around the Izu Islands, Japan. Deep-Sea Res 35: 91–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hama, T., Handa, N. (1987). Pattern of organic matter production by natural phytoplankton population in a eutrophic lake. 1. Intracellular products. Arch. Hydrobiol. 109: 107–120

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hama, T., Handa N., Hama, J. (1987). Determination of amino acid production rate of a marine phytoplankton population with13C and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Limnol. Oceanogr. 32: 1144–1153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hama, T., Handa, N., Takahashi, M., Whitney, F., Wong, C. S. (1988a). Change in distribution patterns of photosynthetically incorporated C during phytoplankton bloom in controlled experimental ecosystem. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 120: 39–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hama, T., Honjo, T. (1987). Photosynthetic products and nutrient availability in phytoplankton population from Gokasho Bay, Japan. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 112: 251–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hama, T., Matsunaga, K., Handa, N., Takahashi, M. (1988b). Day-night changes in production of carbohydrate and protein by natural phytoplankton population from Lake Biwa, Japan. J. Plankton Res. 10: 941–955

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hama, T., Matsunaga, K., Handa, N., Takahashi, M. (1990). Composition of photosynthetic products in Lake Biwa, Japan; vertical and seasonal changes and their relation to environmental factors. J. Plankton Res. 12: 133–147

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hama, T., Miyazaki, T., Ogawa, Y., Iwakuma, T., Takahashi, M., Otsuki, A., Ichimura, S. (1983). Measurement of photosynthetic production of a marine phytoplankton population using a stable13C isotope. Mar. Biol. 73: 31–36

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser, F. E., Gehrke, C. W., Zumwalt, R. W., Kuo, K. C. (1974). Amino acid analysis: hydrolysis, ion-exchange cleanup, derivatization, and quantitation by gas-liquid chromatography. J. Chromat. 94: 113–133

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kouchi, H. (1982). Direct analysis of13C abundance in plant carbohydrates by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. J. Chromat. 241: 305–323

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lancelot, C., Mathot, S. (1985a). Biochemical fractionation of primary production by phytoplankton in Belgian coastal waters during short- and long-term incubations with14C-bicarbonate. I. Mixed diatom population. Mar. Biol. 86: 219–226

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lancelot, C., Mathot, S. (1985b) Biochemical fractionation of primary production by phytoplankton in Belgian coastal waters during short- and long-term incubations with14C-bicarbonate II. Phaeocystis poucheti colonial population. Mar. Biol. 86: 227–232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, W. K. W., Glover, H. E., Morris, I. (1980). Physiology of carbon photoassimilation by Oscillatoria thiebautii in the Caribbean Sea. Limnol. Oceanogr. 25: 447–456

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McAllister, C. D., Shah, N., Strickland, J. D. H. (1964). Marine phytoplankton photosynthesis as a function of light intensity: a comparison of methods. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 21: 159–181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Metealfe, L. D., Schmitz, A. A., Pelka, J. R. (1966). Rapid preparation of fatty acid esters from lipids for gas chromatographic analysis. Analyt. Chem. 38: 514–515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, I., Skea, W. (1978). Products of photosynthesis in natural populations of marine phytoplankton from the Gulf of Maine. Mar. Biol. 47: 303–312

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, I., Smith, A. E., Glover, H. E. (1981). Products of photosynthesis in phytoplankton off the Orinoco River and in the Caribbean Sea. Limnol. Oceanogr. 26: 1034–1044

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Myklestad, S., Haug, A. (1972). Production of carbohydrates by the marine diatom Chaetoceros affinis var. willei (Gran) Hustedt. I. Effect of the concentration of nutrients in the culture medium. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 9: 125–136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, B. J. (1980). Aquatic primary productivity and the14C-CO2 method: a history of the productivity problem. A. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 11: 359–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piorreck, M., Baasch, K. H., Pohl, P. (1984). Biomass production, total protein, chlorophylls, lipids and fatty acids of freshwater green and blue-green algae under different nitrogen regimes. Phytochemistry 23: 207–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pohl, P., Wagner, H. (1972). Control of fatty acid and lipid biosynthesis in Euglena gracilis by ammonia, light and DCMU. Z. Naturforsch. 27B: 53–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, K., Samuelsson G., Hällgren, J. E. (1984). The relationship between photosynthesis measured by14C incorporation and by uptake of inorganic carbon in unicellular algae. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 81: 241–250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roessler, P. G. (1988). Effects of silicon deficiency on lipid composition and metabolism in the diatom Cyclotella cryptica. J. Phycol. 24: 394–400

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryther, J. H., Menzel D. W. (1965). Comparison of the14C-technique with direct measurement of photosynthetic carbon fixation. Limnol. Oceanogr. 10: 490–492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shuter, B. (1979). A model of physiological adaptation in unicellular algae. J. theor. Biol. 78: 519–552

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, A. E., Morris, I. (1980). Synthesis of lipid during photosynthesis by phytoplankton of the Southern Ocean. Science, N. Y. 207: 197–199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strickland, J. D. H., Parsons, T. R. (1972). A practical handbook of seawater analysis, 2nd edn., Part II, Inorganic micronutrients in sea water. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 167: 45–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Suen, Y., Hubbard, J. S., Holzer, G., Tornabene, T. G. (1987). Total lipid production of the green alga Nannochloropsis sp. QII under different nitrogen regimes. J. Phycol. 23: 289–296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, P. J. L. (1984). Bacterial production in the marine food chain: the emperor's new suit of clothes? In: Fasham, M. J. R. (ed.) Flows of energy and materials in marine ecosystems theory and practice. Plenum Press, New York, p. 271–299

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, B. J. B. (1974). Fatty acids and saponifiable lipids. In: Stewart, W. D. P. (ed.) Algal physiology and biochemistry. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, p. 236–265

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Research Institute, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, 464-01, Nagoya, Japan

    J. Hama & N. Handa

Authors
  1. J. Hama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. Handa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by M. Anraku, Suva

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hama, J., Handa, N. Diel photosynthetic production of cellular organic matter in natural phytoplankton populations, measured with13C and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Mar. Biol. 112, 183–190 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00702460

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00702460

Keywords

Search

Navigation