• Title/Summary/Keyword: Limiting nutrients

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An Analysis of Ecological Factors Limiting the Distribution of a Group of Stipa pulchra Associations

  • Robinson, Richard Hayes
    • Journal of Plant Biology
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    • v.14 no.3
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    • pp.1-20
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    • 1971
  • Ecological factors limiting Stipa pulchra have been determined in experimental gardens and at several sites in the hills south and east of Monterey, California. The Stipa pulchrafacies of Valley Grassland communities were found to be dominated by that species, though a total of 36 grasses and forbs were collected and identified. Basal area was not large, but aerial cover by Stipa alone averaged over 50 per cent. Across an ecotone between a Stipa association and the California Annual Type a sudden and dramatic change was recorded. Soil measurements there, and in other nearby areas, showed a much higher clay content with more available water and elemental phosphorus at the Stipa sites. Germination of Stipa seeds was high under all laboratory and field conditions, though growth of seeldings was highly variable. Seedlings grown in Stipa woil with an abundance of water were vigorous and reached anthesis the first year. In other soils they grew less, and when grown in competition with Avena fatua they scarcely grew at all. These findings indicate that when established on desirable soils, Stipa competes well and apparently precludes the dominance of Avena fatua and other large annual grasses. On the other hand, because of a lack of vigor in its seedlings, Stipa cannot reinvade the rich more friable soils on which it was once found, and on which it was shown to grow satisfactorily. This supports the contention that Sipa pulchra was the dominant grass through much of the Valley Grassland and Foothill Woodland, but also indicates that well-drained soils and those poor in mineral nutrients probalby never supported such associations.

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The Identification of Limiting Nutrients Using Algal Bioassay Experiments (ABEs) in Boryeong Reservoir after the Construction of Water Tunnel

  • Ku, Yeonah;Lim, Byung Jin;Yoon, Jo-Hee;Lee, Sang-Jae;An, Kwang-Guk
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.36 no.4
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    • pp.558-566
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    • 2018
  • The objective of the study was to determine nutrition regime and limitation in the Boryeng Reservoir where there's a water tunnel between Geum River and the reservoir. Evaluation was conducted through in situ algal bioassay experiments (in situ ABEs) using the cubitainer setting in the reservoirs. For in situ ABEs, we compared and analyzed variations in chlorophyll-a (CHL-a) and phosphorus concentrations in Boryeong Reservoir before and after the water tunnel construction. We then analyzed the nutrient effects on the reservoir. Analysis for nitrogen and phosphorus was done in the three locations of the reservoir and two locations of the ABEs. The in situ ABEs results showed that phosphorous and Nitrogen, the primary limiting nutrient regulating the algal biomass was not limited in the system. The treatments of phosphorus or simultaneous treatments of N+P showed greater algal growth than in the control of nitrate-treatments, indicating a phosphorus deficiency on the phytoplankton growth in the system. The water from the Geum River had 5 times higher total phosphorus (TP) than the water in the reservoir. Efficient management is required as pumping of the river water from Geum River may accelerate the eutrophication of the reservoir.

Seasonal Distribution of Water Masses and Spatio-temporal Characteristics of Nutrients in the Coastal Areas of Gangwon Province of the Korean East Sea in 2009 (2009년 강원 연안의 계절별 수괴 분포 및 영양염의 시공간적 특성)

  • Choi, Mi-Yeon;Moon, Deok-Soo;Jung, Dong-Ho;Kim, Hyeon-Ju
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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    • v.15 no.2
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    • pp.76-88
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    • 2012
  • In order to investigate the distribution of water masses and spatio-temporal variation of nutrients in the coastal areas of Gangwon province of the Korean East Sea, a survey of the physico-chemical parameters (temperature and salinity) and nutrients ($NO_2$-N, $NO_3$-N, $NH_4$-N, $PO_4$-P, and $SiO_2$-Si) was carried out at 5 locations (Goseong, Sokcho, Yangyang, Gangneung, and Donghae) in February, May, August, and November 2009. The water masses included in the study area were divided into 4 groups; 1) Tsushima Surface Water (TSW), 2) Tsushima Middle Water (TMW), 3) North Korean Cold Water (NKCW), and 4) East Sea Proper Water (ESPW). The distribution of water masses was affected by the change of season. In February, surface water was derived from the TMW. The TSW was not observed in May, but only observed in August. In November, as the influence of the TSW weakened, that of the NKCW strengthened. Considering the vertical profiles of nutrients, the concentrations in all the seasons were very low within the surface water, but increased rapidly near the thermocline. Most of nutrient concentrations, except for dissolved silicate, remained constant below the depth of 200 m. However, the dissolved silicate concentration increased with depth, suggesting that silicate has a delayed regenerative pattern. The ESPW had the highest nutrient concentration, followed by the NKCW, TMW, and TSW. In February, May, and November, the N/P ratio in most of the water masses was similar to or larger than the Redfield ratio, indicating that nitrogenous nutrients did not act as a limiting factor for phytoplankton growth. However, in August, the N/P ratio in the TSW was less than the Redfield ratio, and the concentration of $NO_2$-N+$NO_3$-N was 0.86 ${\mu}m$, indicating that nitrogenous nutrients did act as a limiting factor for phytoplankton growth in the study area.

Primary Production System in the Southern Waters of the East Sea, Korea III. Vertical Distribution of the Phytoplankton in Relation to Chlorophyll Maximum Layer

  • Shim, Jae-Hyung;Park, Jong-Gyu
    • Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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    • v.31 no.4
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    • pp.196-206
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    • 1996
  • Vertical profiles of the chlorophyll ${\alpha}$, phytoplankton abundance, nutrients and sigma-t were compared with the vertical distribution of phytoplankton species in conjunction with $^{14}$C primary production in the Southern Waters of the East Sea, Korea. In the upper mixed layer the water column was only weakly stratified and ambient nitrogenic nutrient concentrations were markedly depleted. Dissolved silicate seemed to be another limiting nutrient in the surface layer. The occupation of different water depths by several dominant diatom species was well explained by the degree of silicification of each cell and the silicate concentration of ambient seawater. Subsurface chlorophyll maxima were continuously observed in the lower parts of the euphotic layer and the depth coincided with nutricline, supporting our view that chlorophyll maximum was sustained partially by enhancement of in situ growth of phytoplankton and partially by increase of cellular chlorophyll content. The persistence of chlorophyll maximum layer was attributed to the physiological adaptation of the phytoplankters to low light intensities and to the utilization of regenerated nutrients. Integrated water column production of organic matter by photosynthesis appeared to be better related to phytoplankton cell division than to the cell growth in terms of biosynthesis of pigments and other intracellular components.

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Ecological Studies on Pal'tang River-Reservoir System in Korea. 4. Dynamics on Inorganic nutrients, POM and Phytoplankton Succession in the Lower Stream Kyungan (팔당호의 생태학적 연구 4. 경안천 하류의 영양염 및 입자태 유기물 거동과 식물플랑크톤의 천이)

  • Hong, Sung-Su;Auh, Yun-Yeol;Han, : Myung-Soo
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.35 no.1 s.97
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    • pp.1-9
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    • 2002
  • In order to understand the relationship between succession of phytoplankton community structure and inorganic nutrients and particulate organic matters, a one station in Kyungan stream in Korea during the dry season was chosen. Water samplings were carried out once a week from 18 August to 13 November 1993. The DIN concentration distributed always abundantly, however, phosphate and silicate gradually reduced during the period. Phytoplankton community had a peak chlorophyll a concentration of $90.6\;{\mu}g/l$ in late summer (21 August 1993) and a second peak of $29.7\;{\mu}g/l$ in autumn (2 October 1993). After then late autumn was characterined by relatively low chlorophyll a concentration of $15{\sim}16\;{\mu}g/l$. Seasonal fluctuation of chlorophyll a concentrations were correlated with measured POC and PON concentrations: phytoplankton blooming may be a major factor controlling POC and PON concentrations in this ecosystem. Phosphate plays an most important role as a limiting factor of phytoplankton growth. However, when Si/P ratio low, silicate may be a more critical limiting factor than phosphate. Shifts of P-limitation to Si- limitation the succession of dominant phytoplankton can in duce: diatom to cyanobacteria such as Anabaena, Microcystis and Oscillatoria.

Distribution of Water Masses and Distribution Characteristics of Dissolved Inorganic and Organic Nutrients in the Southern Part of the East Sea of Korea: Focus on the Observed Data in September, 2011 (동해 남부 해역의 수괴 분포와 용존 무기 및 유기 영양염의 분포 특성: 2011년 9월 관측자료를 중심으로)

  • Kwon, Hyeong Kyu;Oh, Seok Jin;Park, Mi Ok;Yang, Han-Soeb
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.90-103
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    • 2014
  • Distribution characteristics of water masses, dissolved inorganic and organic nutrients were investigated in the southern part of the East Sea of Korea in September, 2011. On the basis of the vertical profiles of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, water masses in the study area were divided into 4 major groups, such as WM (water mass)-I, WM-II, WM-III, WM-IV. Their characteristics were similar to Tsushima Surface Water (TSW), Tsushima Middle Water (TMW), North Korea Cold Water (NKCW) and East Sea Proper Water (ESPW), respectively. In the vertical profiles of dissolved nutrients, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentrations were highest in the WM-IV, followed by WM-III, WM-II, WM-I. On the contrary, distribution of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) were highest in the WM-I, followed by WM-II, WM-III, WM-IV. Although the DIN : DIP ratio in all of the water masses was similar to Redfield ratio(16), the DIN : DIP ratio in mixed layer was about 5.3, indicating that inorganic nitrogen is the limiting factor for the growth of phytoplankton. However, the DON proportion in dissolved total nitrogen (DTN) was about 70% in the mixed layer where inorganic nitrogen is limiting factor. Thus, enriched DON may play an important source of the nutrient for the growth of phytoplankon in the East Sea.

Dependence of Yield Response of Rice to Nitrogen Level on Soil Testing

  • Kim, Yoo Hak;Kong, Myung Suk;Kang, Seong Soo;Chae, Mi Jin;Lee, Ye Jin;Lee, Deog Bae
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.47 no.6
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    • pp.594-597
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    • 2014
  • Crop yields depend on the limiting factor of crop growth; Liebig law of minimum. Identifying the kind and the necessary amount of the limiting factor is essential to increase crop yield. Although nitrogen is the most essential nutrient, N application does not always bring about yield increases when other elements are limiting in rice cultivation. Two experiments were compared to elucidate the effect of soil testing on rice yield response to N level. The one was an experiment about yield response of 3 rice cultivars to 7 levels of N application, which was conducted from 2003 to 2004 in 25 farmer's fields without ameliorating soil conditions by soil testing and the other was a demonstration experiment on N fertilizer recommendation equation by 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 times of N recommended level in 5 soil types from 30 fields after ameliorating soil conditions by soil testing. The N response patterns of the experiments conducted without soil testing showed a Mitscherlich pattern in some cultivars and soil types, but did not in the others. The N response patterns of the demonstration experiment showed a Mitscherlich pattern in all soil types. Because these results indicated that N was the minimum nutrient in the demonstration experiment by ameliorating soil conditions with soil testing, but not in the other experiment without soil testing, the supply of minimum nutrients by soil testing could increase the efficiency of N-fertilization.

Empirical Relations of Nutrients, N : P Ratios, and Chlorophyll in the Drinking Water Supplying Dam and Agricultural Reservoirs

  • Lee, Sang-Jae;An, Kwang-Guk
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.41 no.4
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    • pp.512-518
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    • 2008
  • This study were to evaluate trophic conditions, N : P ratios, and empirical relations of chlorophyll (CHL) systematically using TN, TP, and CHL values in agricultural reservoirs and drinking water supplying dams. During the study, nutrients and CHL varied depending on seasonal conditions and types of the reservoirs, but most reservoirs were diagnozed as eutrophic to hypertrophic. Mass ratios of TN : TP averaged 93.1 (range: $0.68{\sim}1342$) and about 96.6 % of the total observations (n=516) was > 17 in the N : P ratios. This result suggests that P was a potential factor limiting algal growth in the entire reservoir. Thus, TN : TP ratios were a function of phosphorus rather than nitrogen. Regression analysis of log-transformed N : P ratios against TP in DWDRs and ARs showed that ratios were linearly declined with an increase of TP ($R^2$>0.66; p<0.001). Seasonal mean CHL was minimum ($4.3{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, range: $0.1{\sim}39.7{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$) in premonsoon, and was similar between the monsoon and postmonsoon. In contrast, one of the tremendous features was that values of CHL was greater in the ARs than DWDRs. Thus, the spatial and temporal patterns in CHL were similar to those of TP but not TN. Empirical models of CHL-TP showed that CHL variation could explain average 15.3% and 11.3% in DWDRs and ARs, respectively. Seasonal analysis of empirical models showed that CHL-TP relations were stronger in postmonsoon than those of premonsoon and monsoon.

Seasonal Characteristics of Seawater Quality in the Suncheon Bay (순천만 수질환경의 계절적 특성에 관한 연구)

  • Jang, Sung-Guk;Cheong, Cheong-Jo
    • Journal of Wetlands Research
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.47-57
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    • 2010
  • The purpose of this study is to investigate the seasonal variation of water quality parameters in Suncheon bay. We investigated at fifteen stations from October 2008to July 2009. picoplankton The salinity in the bay ranged from 8.8 to 31.9psu, DO ranged from 6.34 to 11.84 mg/L and the pH ranged from 7.80 to 8.34. The mean concentration of suspended solids ranged from 52.1 to 104.0 mg/L and COD concentration ranged from 2.27 to 5.33 mg/L. The total coliform group ranged from 6 to 37CFU. The concentrations of COD and total coliform group were relatively higher in the upper part of the Suncheon bay than lower one. The concentrations of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, silicate were also higher in the upper part of the bay, because the large amount of fresh water was inflowed into the bay from the Dong stream and Isa stream. Because the N/P ratio was ranged from 4.54 to 9.61 in this study, the limiting nutrients was nitrogen in the Suncheon bay comparing to the Redfield ratio.

Limiting Nutrients for Phytoplankton Growth in the Seomjin River Estuary as Determined by Algal Bioassay Experiment (생물검정실험에 의한 섬진강 하구역 식물플랑크톤 성장의 제한영양염 평가)

  • Kwon Kee Young;Kim Chang Hoon;Kang Chang Keun;Moon Chang Ho;Park Mi Ok;Yang Sung Ryull
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.35 no.5
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    • pp.455-461
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    • 2002
  • limiting nutrients for phytoplankton were determined by dissored inorganic nitrogen/phosphorous (DIN/DIP) in situ and algal bioassay experiment in the Seomjin River estuary during a study period from March 1999 to October 2001. DIN/DIP ranged from 14.7 to 681.1 during the study period. DIN/DIP was over 16 at the upper and middle estuarine region where salinity was lower than 25 psu and chlorophyll a concentration was high, probably indicating P-limitation in this region while the ratio was less than 16 at the high saline (> 25 psu) region, reflecting the supply of DIP from Gwangyang Bay and thereby indicating N-limitation at the lower estuarine region. These results suggested that the spatial distribution of DIN/DIP in the study region was controlled by the high supply of phosphate from Gwangyang Bay, the low input from Seomjin River and the active uptake by phytoplankton within the estuarine system. The bioassay experiments using Skeletonema costatum, Thalaasiosira rotula and in situ phytoplankton assemblage displayed relatively higher growth of phytoplankton in the P-added culture media, indicating P-limitation. This result was well consistent with the spatial distribution of inorganic nutrients. S. costatum showed a rapid adaptation to the low salinity compared to other phytoplankton species. This phenomenon seemed to account for the strong (> $90\%$ in total cell number) S. costatum bloom in autumn in this estuary. Moreover, although phytoplankton growth rate was higher in the P-added culture media at the end of culture experiment of in situ phytoplankton, the fast growth in the trace metal-added media at the beginning of the experiment suggested a possibility of limitation by other micro-nutrients such as trace metal and vitamin etc.