Effects of ambient DIN:DIP ratio on the nitrogen uptake of harmful dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum and Prorocentrum donghaiense in turbidistat

Recent insights about relationships between nutrient availability, forms, and stoichiometry, and the distribution, ecophysiology, and food web effects of pelagic and benthic Prorocentrum species

“…An optimal N:P ratio of $12 was also observed for P. minimum and P. donghaeinse when grown across a range of N:P ratios in turbidistat conditions (Li et al, 2011a; Table 4). Reynolds (2001, 2003) have suggested that planktonic Prorocentrum species are effective competitors in nutrient-rich nearshore regions, compared to other dinoflagellates across a matrix of nutrient and light conditions simulating inshore to offshore conditions.…”

“…Kinetics of inorganic N and urea uptake have recently been measured for P. minimum, and P. donghaiense in both laboratory cultures and field bloom conditions (Fan et al, 2003a;Li et al, 2010Li et al, , 2011a. The data indicate that both species do not have high affinity for these N forms (Table 2).…”

“…They vary widely in growth rate depending upon temperature, salinity, and other conditions, but maximum growth rates under optimal conditions tend to be >0.6 divisions day À1 (Table 1). Most culture studies report growth rates for P. minimum and P. donghaiense of <1.4 divisions day À1 (reviewed by Heil et al, 2005;Jeong et al, 2010;Li et al, 2011a). One study, however, reported significantly higher growth rates, 4.2 divisions day À1 (Smayda, 1996), possibly because of the natural light conditions that were used .…”

“…In a comparative study of seven dinoflagellate species, Paasche et al (1984) found that P. minimum took up N in the light and the dark, whereas several other species did not. In turbidistat culture growth experiments of both P. minimum and P. donghaiense under light-dark cycles, Li et al (2011a) showed that maximum growth rates occurred in the first hour of the light phase and growth rate decreased over the rest of the day.…”

Growth and competition of several harmful dinoflagellates under different nutrient and light conditions

“…For P. minimum, P. donghaiense and K. brevis, the N:P ratio may not only relate to the bloom distribution and biomass, but also may regulate dominant species due to their differential nutrient uptake rates and preferences (Fisher et al, 1992;Smayda, 2002;Heil et al, 2007;Li et al, 2009Li et al, , 2010Li et al, , 2011. In East China Sea, the P. donghaiense-dominated communities were observed to be associated with DIN:DIP ratios that were slightly higher than the Redfield ratio (16), while, in both East China Sea and southwest Florida shelf, the Karenia spp.-dominated communities were found in association with DIN:DIP ratios that were below the Redfield ratio, but high DON:DOP ratio (>20), suggesting that Karenia spp.…”