Highly Specialized Nitrogen Metabolism in a Freshwater Phytoplankter, Chrysochromulina breviturrita

Abstract

A field and laboratory culture study was carried out on the nitrogen metabolism of isolates of the freshwater phytoplankter Chrysochromulina breviturrita Nich. (Prymnesiophyceae). These were isolated from two different softwater lakes, one believed to be influenced by acidic precipitation (Cinder Lake) and another which was experimentally acidified with H2SO4 (Lake 302-South). The alga was able to utilize only NH4+ as an inorganic N source. A range of irradiances and molybdenum concentrations failed to induce NO3− utilization. Among 17 organic N compounds including amino acids, purines, and other amines, only urea plus Ni2+ as a cofactor would serve as the sole N source for this species. Nonetheless, growth rates in media supplied with urea were significantly less than with NH4+. Field data from Lake 302-S indicate that a predominance of NH4+ versus NO3− as the major inorganic N species may have favored the development of a Chrysochromulina-dominated community during August 1984. A detailed depth profile also indicated that a metalimnetic peak (> 20 × 106 cells/L) of this alga coincided with a distinct NH4+ depletion, which occurred at no other time during the year. Experiments with isolates of C. breviturrita and a Nannochloris sp. (Chlorophyceae) (~ 1 μm in diameter) from this community indicated that the former alga possessed a highly specialized N metabolism much like the Cinder Lake isolate. The Nannochloris sp. from the same environment grew on NO3− and NH4+ equally well. It is suggested that the specialized NH4+ utilization by C. breviturrita may itself influence the pH regime of poorly buffered waters through selective NH4+ uptake and H+ generation.