Has the Importance of Photoautotrophic Picoplankton Been Overestimated
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-1994
Department
Marine Science
Abstract
Postincubation differential filtration (PIDF), preincubation differential filtration (Pre-IDF), and track autoradiography (TA) were compared for estimating cell-specific and total photo-autotrophic picoplankton production. Experiments were performed in Lakes Michigan and Huron and in the Ful of Mexico. When Synechococcus dominated the photoautotrophic picoplankton community (>70% of total picoplankton abundance), PIDF estimates of cell-specific and total picoplankton production were ~3.0 x (range, 2.0--3.8 x) higher than TA estimates. PreIDF estimates of cell-specific and total picoplankton production, however, were only slightly higher than TA estimates (mean, 1.4 x; range, 1.4--1.5 x). The higher PIDF estimates were attributable to breakage and damage of larger photoautotrophs during postincubation filtration and to retention of this labeled material on the smaller (0.2 µm) pore-size filter. Results from PIDF experiments must be viewed with caution and previous estimates of picoplankto production, cell-specific or total, based solely on PIDF may need to be re-evaluated.
Publication Title
Limnology and Oceanography
Volume
39
Issue
2
First Page
432
Last Page
438
Recommended Citation
Fahnenstiel, G. L.,
Redalje, D. G.,
Lohrenz, S. E.
(1994). Has the Importance of Photoautotrophic Picoplankton Been Overestimated. Limnology and Oceanography, 39(2), 432-438.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/7238