The nutrient status of algal cells in batch culture

Abstract

In a recent publication in this Journal I presented a set of seven equations effecting to describe from a single set of constants any chemostat steady state of the flagellateMonochrysis lutheriin terms of phosphorus and vitamin B12without prejudice as to which was rate limiting, given only the input concentrations of the two nutrients and the dilution rate of the chemostat (Droop, 1974, equations 23–29). There was nothing inherent in this description to prevent its application to transient situations, and I felt that at least it should apply to the transitional phase of a batch culture. The aim of this paper, which is a continuation of the previous one, is to find out whether this is so and whether in fact the model can be adapted to describe the complete history of a batch culture, because if it can its value to predictive models for phytoplankton would be greatly enhanced.