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Study on stoichiometric of macronutrients molar ratios to determine growth limiting factors of phytoplankton in the southern of Caspian Sea- Mazandaran Province (2012-2013)
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Hasan Nasrollahzadeh Saravi   , Asieh Makhlough , Fariba Vahedi , Abdollah Nasrollahtabar , Yousef Ulomi |
| Caspian Sea Ecology Research Center (CSERC), Sari, Iran |
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Abstract: (5076 Views) |
| This study was conducted to determine macronutrient concentrations of water and molar ratios of them at four transects (Tonekabon, Nowshahr, Babolsar and Amirabad) in the southern of Caspian Sea- Mazandaran Province in 2012-2013. Seventy two surface water samples were collected at 5, 15 and 30 meter depth and macronutrient concentrations were analyzed using standard methods. Results showed that minimum, maximum and mean (±SE) cocentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and disoolved silicon (DSi) were registered 2.44-10.92 (5.89±0.21), 0.23-1.80 (0.58±0.04) and 5.30-15.12 (9.50±0.20) µM, respectively. In addition, annual mean (±SE) molar ratios of DIN/DIP, DSi/DIP and DSi/DIN were obtained 12.49±0.86, 18.82±0.78 and 1.75±0.07, respectively. Results of current study also showed that trend of the molar ratios of DIN/DIP and DSi/DIP were declined from May (2012) to March (2013) with increasing of DIP and DSi concentrations and decreasing of DIN concentration. In a conclusion, the molar ratios of macronutrients and the corresponding curves, the system was phosphorus limiting factor for phytoplankton during May and June but in December, January and February tend to be found towards nitrogen limitation and in September, system has experienced both limiting factor (P-limiting and N-limiting). There was no Si-limitation for phytoplankton growth at all regions and months in this area. |
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| Keywords: Macronutrients, Molar Ratios, Caspian Sea, Mazandaran Province |
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Full-Text [PDF 1719 kb]
(1570 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2014/05/5 | Accepted: 2014/05/5 | Published: 2014/05/5
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