The Phosphate Content of Fresh and Salt Waters in its Relationship to the growth of the Algal Plankton

Atkins, W. R. G.

doi:10.1017/s002531540001095x

Cited by 140 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…In Plymouth, all effort then went into studying phosphate as the limiting factor. In a suite of field studies in the Channel it was shown that, just at the end of the spring bloom, not only had phosphate become depleted, but also that once the surface waters had warmed, the resulting vertical stratification prevented upward mixing of underlying phosphate-rich waters (ATKINS, 1923(ATKINS, , 1924(ATKINS, , 1925a. The concept of nutrient limitation by vertical stratification was consistent with earlier observation of the upper mixed layer in lakes, known as the epilimnion (BIRGE andJUDAY, 1911, 1922).…”

Section: Atkins Cooper and Harvey: Phosphate And Hydrographymentioning

confidence: 99%

von Liebig's law of the minimum and plankton ecology (1899–1991)

Baar

1994

Progress in Oceanography

236

132

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-The Law of the Minimum was originally formulated by Justus yon Liebig, as one of the 50 interlinked laws concerned with agriculture. The original writings ofJ. von Liebig often were misinterpreted by his successors. BRAt, rOT (1899) took this one law out of its context and proposed that limitation by nitrogen is a dominant factor in plankton ecology, far beyond its original application to agriculture. This was opposed by NAmANSOrn~ (1908) who suggested instead a dynamic balance of growth and loss terms. Towards validating, or eventually falsifying Brandt's hypothesis, Atkins, Harvey, Cooper and others developed the chemical methods necessary for re-defining ocean nutrient cycling and growth limitation. The major exception to these modem perspectives was the Antarctic Paradox of higla nutrients and low chlorophyll which inspired Gran, Atkins, Harvey and Cooper to pioneer the concept of iron limitation. An exhaustive overview is given of efforts to define Fe in seawater and its controlling effect on in situ plankton growth, for the 1920-1984 period. Somewhat parallel work in the laboratory on single species of algae in chelation-controlled mediahas provided much insight, but is sketched only briefly. Martin and contemporaries developed the chemical methods necessary for defming the ocean chemistry of Fe and its role for in situ growth. These developments are sketched for the 1982-1991 period. Once again the Law of the Minimum and associated bold hypotheses served, albeit briefly, to bring a nutrient element in the forefront of research. This, and the recent awareness of CO 2 as rate limiting factor, underline the conclusion that advances in sciences often hinge on advances in technology, confirming Kta-~ (1962). In this case the new analytical techniques developed by Atkins, Harvey, Cooper, Martin and their associates have proven revolutionary for plankton ecology. Some observations in plankton ecology may be reminiscent of the agricultural Law of the Minimum, but this would not warrant its direct application, beyond its original context and agriculture, to plankton ecology. Rather the net rate of increase ofphytoplankton is the dynamic balance of multiple growth and loss terms, together also determining the biomass at given time and space. 347

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Section: Atkins Cooper and Harvey: Phosphate And Hydrographymentioning

confidence: 99%

von Liebig's law of the minimum and plankton ecology (1899–1991)

Baar

1994

Progress in Oceanography

236

132

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“…Of the reagents so far suggested for the reduction of phosphomolybdic acid to molybdenum blue in the determination of phosphate, only stannous chloride (Atkins, 1923;Harvey, 1948), metol (Burton & Riley, 1956), and ascorbic acid (Greenfield & Kalber, 1954), give colours of sufficient intensity to be used in the analysis of sea water. Burton & Riley (1956) have recently reviewed the use of stannous chloride as a reducing agent in the molybdenum-blue method for the determination of phosphate in sea water.…”

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confidence: 99%

A Single-Solution Method for the Determination of Soluble Phosphate in Sea Water

1958

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It has been found that a reagent containing sulphuric acid, ammonium molybdate and ascorbic acid may be used as a single-solution reagent for the determination of phosphate in sea water. Development of the molybdenum-blue colour is complete in 24 h at room temperature and in 30 min at 60° C; the colour is stable for at least 3 days. Beer's law is obeyed closely up to at least 500 μg PO43−-P/1. The salt error is approximately 4% with sea water of chlorinity 19·3%. The interference due to either arsenate or silicate at their concentrations in sea water is negligible.

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“…The diatoms in the rubidium-containing cultures seem to be limited to an increase of seven to eleven times their original number, so that even when the rubidium is not harmful the total replacement of potassium seems impossible. 4. It would seem that 3.1X 10-16gram atoms of potassium per diatom is approaching the limiting value of this element for the continued growth of Nitzschia closterium.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Atkins has shown (4) 1. It is fully realised that the difficulty in detecting potassium and rubidium when present in small quantities and together with salts of sodium, is very great.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Replacement of Potassium by Rubidium inNitzschia closterium

Stanbury¹

1934

J. Mar. Biol. Ass.

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Various attempts have been made to substitute certain elements for those acknowledged as essential for plant growth. Using plant material, sodium is the element usually chosen as a possible substitute for potassium, but results show that whilst sodium may be taken up in fairly considerable quantities this is only possible if small amounts of potassium be present as well. Total replacement appears to be impossible (11,13,15).

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The Phosphate Content of Fresh and Salt Waters in its Relationship to the growth of the Algal Plankton

Cited by 140 publications

References 8 publications

von Liebig's law of the minimum and plankton ecology (1899–1991)

von Liebig's law of the minimum and plankton ecology (1899–1991)

A Single-Solution Method for the Determination of Soluble Phosphate in Sea Water

Replacement of Potassium by Rubidium inNitzschia closterium

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