University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Effect of bryozoan colonization on inorganic nitrogen acquisition by the kelps Agarum fimbriatum and Macrocystis integrifolia

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 02:06 authored by Catriona HurdCatriona Hurd, Durante, KM, Chia, F-S, Harrison, PJ
The effect of bryozoan colonization on inorganic nitrogen acquisition by Agarum fimbriatum Harv. and Macrocystis integrifolia Bory., collected from the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, was examined in laboratory experiments during June and July 1992. Pieces of kelp blades that were completely covered on one side by the bryozoans Lichenopora novae-zelandiae Busk or Membranipora membranacea, L., or uncolonized (clean treatment), were used to estimate the rate at which nitrate and ammonium were removed from the surrounding seawater. In addition, the rate of ammonium excretion by bryozoans isolated from their associated kelp was measured and also estimated from the results of the uptake experiments. Values obtained were used to estimate the contribution of ammonium excreted by bryozoans to the total amount of inorganic nitrogen available to the associated kelp. Both bryozoan species reduced the ability of the associated kelp to remove nitrate and ammonium from seawater but provided a source of ammonium to the kelp through excretion. The nitrogen status of colonized and clean kelp disks was determined from the ratio of total particulate carbon to total particulate nitrogen (C:N ratio). The C:N ratios for A. fimbriatum colonized with either L. novae-zelandiae or M. membranacea were similar (C:N=12 to 14), and differences between colonized and clean treatments were not significant. For A. fimbriatum, therefore, the C:N ratio indicates that this species was not nitrogen limited at the time of the present study. In contrast, both colonized and clean disks of M. integrifolia were nitrogen limited, but colonized disks (C:N=19) were significantly less limited by nitrogen than clean disks (C:N=29). Results are discussed in relation to the different environments inhabited by both kelp species and are consistent with the hypothesis that ammonium excreted by bryozoans was an important source of inorganic nitrogen to M. integrifolia, but not to A. fimbriatum, at the time of the study.

History

Publication title

Marine Biology

Volume

121

Pagination

167-173

ISSN

0025-3162

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Springer-Verlag

Place of publication

175 Fifth Ave, New York, USA, Ny, 10010

Rights statement

Copyright 1994 Springer-Verlag

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC