Elemental Phytoplankton Profiles
For many years, oceanographers have considered the Redfield ratio (C:N:P = 106:16:1)
a cornerstone concept; it represents an emergent property that integrates biogeochemical
cycles on basin scales over tens of thousands of years. The ratios hold very well for nitrate
and phosphate in ocean waters and are thought to indicate healthy phytoplankton growth rates.
When N:P ratios of less than 16 are measured, the findings are taken to indicate N limitation,
whereas higher N:P ratios indicate P limitation. Since these ratios represent the net effect
of biological activity in the system, marked deviations from the ratios may be expected in
individual types of phytoplankton.
We therefore measured the elemental composition of many phytoplankton grown under
identical conditions (Quigg et al 2003; Ho et al 2003). Not only did we analyze C, N,
and P, but also the major cations (K, Mg, Ca, Sr, etc..) and important trace elements
(Fe, Mn, Cd, Co, Cu, Zn, etc…). Our findings can be examined in several ways, (1) as
an extended Redfield ratio (Ho et al. 2003) which like the Redfield ratio, can be used
to understand the biology of marine systems and be used in models of biogeochemical
cycles, and (2) to define ecological profiles that are species, taxa and/or superfamily
specific (Quigg et al 2003).
We would like to use multi-elemental phytoplankton profiles to extend our current
understanding of biological systems, on both short (days to weeks) and long term
(100’s – millions of years). Current projects are aimed at increasing the number
of phytoplankton examined to include members from at least 10 phytoplankton taxa,
examine how changes in community composition are related to changes in seawater
chemistry, why trace elemental substitutions were made in important metallo-enzymes
in some but not all phytoplankton cells.
The authors of this web page cordially invite contributions from all colleagues
interested in building a data base that maybe used in the future to further our
understanding of ecological stoichiometry. Please submit as many details as possible
about your particular phytoplankton(s), the assay system(s) and findings. Submissions
should not be limited to multi-elemental studies, we would love findings on just N:P
ratios, if you have additional information, such as DNA, RNA, quotas, etc…. and any publication details (or links). We hope to make this a community resource for students, postdoc’s, faculty, for modelers, to those that study molecules, the biosphere, and everything in between.
Back to top
Click on the links below for more information on each phytoplankton species.
Amphidinium carterae
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
126 + 24 |
| |
N |
18 + 3.8 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
1.34 + 0.09 |
| |
K |
0.15 + 0.05 |
| |
Mg |
0.57 + 0.04 |
| |
Ca |
0.27 + 0.027 |
| |
Sr |
1.2 + 0.08 |
| |
Fe |
13.3 + 0.37 |
| |
Mn |
5.1 + 0.16 |
| |
Zn |
1.26 + 0.310 |
| |
Cu |
0.54 + 0.059 |
| |
Co |
0.35 + 0.010 |
| |
Cd |
0.73 + 0.037 |
| |
Mo |
0.11 + 0.010 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Dinophyceae |
| |
Clone |
CCMP 1314 |
| |
Authority |
Hulburt |
| |
Provenance |
Estuarine |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.52 |
| |
Cellular volume |
514 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.53 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
Ditylum brightwellii
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
45 + 18 |
| |
N |
5.4 + 1.0 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
1.82 + 0.13 |
| |
K |
3.31 + 0.11 |
| |
Mg |
N.A. |
| |
Ca |
1.05 + 0.11 |
| |
Sr |
6.8 + 0.8 |
| |
Fe |
0.3 + (N.A.) |
| |
Mn |
1.9 + 0.08 |
| |
Zn |
0.07 + 0.023 |
| |
Cu |
0.06 + 0.004 |
| |
Co |
0.17 + 0.005 |
| |
Cd |
0.18 + 0.008 |
| |
Mo |
0.014 + 0.002 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Bacillariophyceae |
| |
Clone |
CCMP 358 |
| |
Authority |
(West) Grunow |
| |
Provenance |
Oceanic |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.43 |
| |
Cellular volume |
6995 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.61 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
Dunaliella tertiolecta
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
222 + 32 |
| |
N |
38 + 5.6 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
0.28 + 0.03 |
| |
K |
0.36 + 0.08 |
| |
Mg |
0.37 + 0.03 |
| |
Ca |
0.019 + 0.002 |
| |
Sr |
0.081+ 0.02 |
| |
Fe |
11.3 + 0.48 |
| |
Mn |
1.9 + 0.07 |
| |
Zn |
1.49 + 0.08 |
| |
Cu |
0.67 + 0.034 |
| |
Co |
0.010 + 0.0004 |
| |
Cd |
0.10 + 0.006 |
| |
Mo |
0.011 + 0.003 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Chlorophyceae |
| |
Clone |
CCMP 1320 |
| |
Authority |
Butcher |
| |
Provenance |
Unknown |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.72 |
| |
Cellular volume |
227 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.69 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
Emiliana huxleyi
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
237/(76 + 23)
|
| |
N |
8.8 + 2.9 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
0.77 + 0.02 |
| |
K |
0.84 + 0.02 |
| |
Mg |
0.13 + 0.004 |
| |
Ca |
142 + 7.0 |
| |
Sr |
336 + 10 |
| |
Fe |
3.5 + 0.07 |
| |
Mn |
7.1 + 0.36 |
| |
Zn |
0.38 + 0.002 |
| |
Cu |
0.07 + 0.013 |
| |
Co |
0.29 + 0.020 |
| |
Cd |
0.36 + 0.0097 |
| |
Mo |
0.022 + 0.0003 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Prymesiophyceae |
| |
Clone |
ASM 1 |
| |
Authority |
Probert |
| |
Provenance |
Oceanic |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.64 |
| |
Cellular volume |
142 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.58 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
Gephyrocapsa oceanica
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
224/(64 + 12)
|
| |
N |
7.3 + 1.3 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
1.00 + 0.07 |
| |
K |
0.95 + 0.02 |
| |
Mg |
0.13 + 0.01 |
| |
Ca |
127 + 3.1 |
| |
Sr |
278 + 3.3 |
| |
Fe |
4.0 + 0.87 |
| |
Mn |
7.1 + 0.13 |
| |
Zn |
0.41 + 0.088 |
| |
Cu |
0.11 + 0.007 |
| |
Co |
0.360 + 0.010 |
| |
Cd |
0.31 + 0.011 |
| |
Mo |
0.023 + 0.005 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Prymesiophyceae |
| |
Clone |
JS1A |
| |
Authority |
Probert |
| |
Provenance |
Oceanic |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.79 |
| |
Cellular volume |
142 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.64 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
Gymnodinium chlorophorum
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
137 + 40 |
| |
N |
16.6 + 3.4 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
N.A. |
| |
K |
N.A. |
| |
Mg |
N.A. |
| |
Ca |
N.A. |
| |
Sr |
25 + 1.01 |
| |
Fe |
14.4 + 0.90 |
| |
Mn |
1.9 + 0.08 |
| |
Zn |
0.87 + 0.070 |
| |
Cu |
1.36 + 0.18 |
| |
Co |
0.24 + 0.02 |
| |
Cd |
0.097 + 0.010 |
| |
Mo |
0.11 + 0.02 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Dinophyceae |
| |
Clone |
DIN 3 |
| |
Authority |
Elbrächter
& Schnepf |
| |
Provenance |
Coastal |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.20 |
| |
Cellular volume |
3410 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.72 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
Nannochloris atomus
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
173 + 8 |
| |
N |
25 + 1.4 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
0.36 + 0.02 |
| |
K |
0.97 + 0.02 |
| |
Mg |
0.24 + 0.01 |
| |
Ca |
0.028 + 0.002 |
| |
Sr |
0.046 + 0.01 |
| |
Fe |
13.6 + 0.42 |
| |
Mn |
1.2 + 0.05 |
| |
Zn |
1.68 + 0.14 |
| |
Cu |
0.23 + 0.006 |
| |
Co |
0.081 + 0.002 |
| |
Cd |
0.007 + 0.0008 |
| |
Mo |
0.009 + 0.001 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Chlorophyceae |
| |
Clone |
CCMP 509 |
| |
Authority |
Butcher |
| |
Provenance |
Coastal |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.69 |
| |
Cellular volume |
14 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.63 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
Nitzschia brevirostris
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
42 + 11
|
| |
N |
6.8 + 2.1 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
1.15 + 0.12 |
| |
K |
2.43 + 0.18 |
| |
Mg |
0.60 + 0.1 |
| |
Ca |
0.27 + 0.062 |
| |
Sr |
1.3 + 0.48 |
| |
Fe |
3.1 + 2.0 |
| |
Mn |
2.3 + 0.04 |
| |
Zn |
0.27 + 0.041 |
| |
Cu |
0.18 + 0.007 |
| |
Co |
0.056 + 0.0014 |
| |
Cd |
0.019 + 0.0028 |
| |
Mo |
0.014 + 0.002 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Bacillariophyceae |
| |
Clone |
CCMP 551 |
| |
Authority |
Hustedt |
| |
Provenance |
Estuarine |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.67 |
| |
Cellular volume |
119 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.51 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
Prorocentrum minimum
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
135 + 21 |
| |
N |
11 + 1.9 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
2.18 + 0.05 |
| |
K |
1.29 + 0.01 |
| |
Mg |
0.99 + 0.16 |
| |
Ca |
0.38 + 0.070 |
| |
Sr |
2.9 + 0.5 |
| |
Fe |
6.8 + 1.72 |
| |
Mn |
6.1 + 0.18 |
| |
Zn |
0.89 + 0.063 |
| |
Cu |
0.28 + 0.012 |
| |
Co |
0.46 + 0.0053 |
| |
Cd |
0.12 + 0.005 |
| |
Mo |
0.025 + 0.01 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Dinophyceae |
| |
Clone |
CCMP 1329 |
| |
Authority |
(Pavillard)
Schiller |
| |
Provenance |
Coastal |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.52 |
| |
Cellular volume |
833 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.56 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
Pycnococcus provasoli
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
191 + 34 |
| |
N |
27 + 5.0 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
1.07 + 0.03 |
| |
K |
1.23 + 0.09 |
| |
Mg |
0.27 + 0.01 |
| |
Ca |
0.055 + 0.006 |
| |
Sr |
0.11 + 0.01 |
| |
Fe |
12.6 + 0.85 |
| |
Mn |
2.1 + 0.04 |
| |
Zn |
0.92 + 0.062 |
| |
Cu |
0.53 + 0.039 |
| |
Co |
0.090 + 0.002 |
| |
Cd |
0.029 + 0.0016 |
| |
Mo |
0.017 + 0.001 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Prasinophyceae |
| |
Clone |
CCMP 1203 |
| |
Authority |
Guillard |
| |
Provenance |
Coastal |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.64 |
| |
Cellular volume |
10 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.50 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
Pyramimonas parkeae
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
475/(209 + 43)
|
| |
N |
17.6 + 4.6 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
1.44 + 0.28 |
| |
K |
0.85 + 0.12 |
| |
Mg |
N.A. |
| |
Ca |
1.69 + 0.30 |
| |
Sr |
12 + 0.81 |
| |
Fe |
15.4 + 2.18 |
| |
Mn |
7.7 + 1.03 |
| |
Zn |
1.47 + 0.12 |
| |
Cu |
0.62 + 0.039 |
| |
Co |
0.24 + 0.028 |
| |
Cd |
0.65 + 0.057 |
| |
Mo |
0.035 + 0.003 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Prasinophyceae |
| |
Clone |
CCMP 724 |
| |
Authority |
Norris & Pearson |
| |
Provenance |
Coastal |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.69 |
| |
Cellular volume |
587 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.66 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
Tetraselmis sp.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
199 + 43 |
| |
N |
26 + 5.3 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
1.33 + 0.01 |
| |
K |
1.47 + 0.04 |
| |
Mg |
0.23 + 0.01 |
| |
Ca |
0.86 + 0.019 |
| |
Sr |
25 + 1.01 |
| |
Fe |
3.9 + 0.42 |
| |
Mn |
4.0 + 0.25 |
| |
Zn |
0.4 + 0.075 |
| |
Cu |
0.51 + 0.009 |
| |
Co |
0.112 + 0.018 |
| |
Cd |
0.15 + 0.007 |
| |
Mo |
0.028 + 0.006 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Prasinophyceae |
| |
Clone |
CCMP 1639 |
| |
Authority |
Lewin |
| |
Provenance |
Estuarine |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.27 |
| |
Cellular volume |
300 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.68 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
Thalassiosira eccentrica
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
75 + 10 |
| |
N |
7.8 + 1.0 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
1.94 + 0.12 |
| |
K |
3.25 + 0.22 |
| |
Mg |
2.14 + 0.32 |
| |
Ca |
0.65 + 0.035 |
| |
Sr |
3.9 + 0.45 |
| |
Fe |
6.7 + 0.18 |
| |
Mn |
2.1 + 0.06 |
| |
Zn |
1.00 + 0.41 |
| |
Cu |
0.28 + 0.069 |
| |
Co |
0.240 + 0.039 |
| |
Cd |
0.15 + 0.006 |
| |
Mo |
0.020 + 0.002 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Bacillariophyceae |
| |
Clone |
CCMP 1800 |
| |
Authority |
(Ehr) Cleve |
| |
Provenance |
Estuarine |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.27 |
| |
Cellular volume |
6627 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.62 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
Thalassiosira weissflogii
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
86 + 7 |
| |
N |
13.6 + 1.1 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
1.34 + 0.18 |
| |
K |
5.30 + 0.26 |
| |
Mg |
N.A. |
| |
Ca |
0.40 + 0.11 |
| |
Sr |
2.2 + 0.74 |
| |
Fe |
1.7 + 0.18 |
| |
Mn |
5.3 + 0.08 |
| |
Zn |
0.75 + 0.027 |
| |
Cu |
0.17 + 0.005 |
| |
Co |
0.108 + 0.0014 |
| |
Cd |
0.066 + 0.0008 |
| |
Mo |
0.020 + 0.002 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Bacillariophyceae |
| |
Clone |
CCMP 1336 |
| |
Authority |
(Gru.) Fryxell et
Hasle |
| |
Provenance |
Coastal |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.98 |
| |
Cellular volume |
930 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.56 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
Thoracosphaera heimii
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Element |
mol/mol P
+ 1 S.E. |
| |
C |
112/(81 + 20)
|
| |
N |
6.4 + 1.4 |
| |
P |
1 |
| |
S |
1.31 + 0.04 |
| |
K |
1.01 + 0.01 |
| |
Mg |
0.48 + 0.01 |
| |
Ca |
45 + 1.1 |
| |
Sr |
79 + 1.7 |
| |
Fe |
1.8 + 0.2 |
| |
Mn |
1.3 + 0.09 |
| |
Zn |
0.11 + 0.07 |
| |
Cu |
0.06 + 0.014 |
| |
Co |
0.095 + 0.013 |
| |
Cd |
0.11 + 0.0057 |
| |
Mo |
0.039 + 0.026 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Bug Profile |
| |
Taxum |
Dinophyceae |
| |
Clone |
CCMP 1069 |
| |
Authority |
(Lohm.) Kamptner |
| |
Provenance |
Oceanic |
| |
p(d-1) |
0.33 |
| |
Cellular vol |
1353 (µm)3 |
| |
Fv/Fm |
0.57 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Back to top
