102
E. D. 8. CORNER AND ANTHONY 0. DAVIES
XII. Pleriktoii Production and Nutrient Levels in Curtain Sea Areas . . .. 172
A.
Temperato Rogions . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 172
€3.
Tropical and Sub-tropical Regions
.. ..
..
.. I78
C.
Polar Rcgions
.. .. .. ..
.. .. .. 182
I).
Partially Enclosed Sea Amas
. . .. .. .. .. 185
XIII. Acknowledgements
. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 192
XIV. References
. . .. .. . . . . .. .. .. .. 192
I. INTRODUCTION
This review is primarily concerned with quantitative aspects of the
relationship between organically-bound forms of nitrogen and phosphorus
in Suspended material in the sea, and the inorganic forms of these
elements dissolved in sea water. In dealing with suspended material we
have concentrated almost exclusively on planktonic organisms: since,
although a large proportion may be present in the sea as detritus, this
fraction has recently been considered in a review in the present series
(Riley, 1970); moreover, another recent review (Johannes, 1968) has
absolved us from the need to deal in detail with the role of bacteria.
A further limitation to our treatment has been imposed by the fact that
research on topics such as the chemistry of nutrients in sea water has
continued for well over half a century and has given rise to a vast and
scattered literature : accordingly, while we have occasionally given
detailed consideration to earlier studies that have, in our view, been
particularly valuable, we have tended for the most part to concentrate
on more recent publications, namely those appearing in the last ten
years or so. Again, for reasons less valid but perhaps understandable,
some degree of bias in our selection of topics may have resulted from
our own research interests.
Our general approach has been to deal with the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles in the sea in terms of (1) the sea water-phytoplankton
relationship (2) the phytoplankton-zooplankton relationship and
(3) the zooplankton-sea water relationship. In addition, as many of
the studies considered under these headings have involved laboratory
experiments using plants and animals confined in small volumes of sea
water, we have extended our treatment to include a final section dealing
with field observations that illustrate the interrelationships of plankton
and nutrient levels in the open sea.
11. THE CHEMICAL FORMS OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS
DISSOLVED IN SEA WATER
Throughout this review, we shall frequently refer to nitrate and
phosphate as important nutrients for phytoplankton growth. However,
the sea contains several other dissolved forms of nitrogen and phos-
E. D. 8. CORNER AND ANTHONY 0. DAVIES
XII. Pleriktoii Production and Nutrient Levels in Curtain Sea Areas . . .. 172
A.
Temperato Rogions . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 172
€3.
Tropical and Sub-tropical Regions
.. ..
..
.. I78
C.
Polar Rcgions
.. .. .. ..
.. .. .. 182
I).
Partially Enclosed Sea Amas
. . .. .. .. .. 185
XIII. Acknowledgements
. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 192
XIV. References
. . .. .. . . . . .. .. .. .. 192
I. INTRODUCTION
This review is primarily concerned with quantitative aspects of the
relationship between organically-bound forms of nitrogen and phosphorus
in Suspended material in the sea, and the inorganic forms of these
elements dissolved in sea water. In dealing with suspended material we
have concentrated almost exclusively on planktonic organisms: since,
although a large proportion may be present in the sea as detritus, this
fraction has recently been considered in a review in the present series
(Riley, 1970); moreover, another recent review (Johannes, 1968) has
absolved us from the need to deal in detail with the role of bacteria.
A further limitation to our treatment has been imposed by the fact that
research on topics such as the chemistry of nutrients in sea water has
continued for well over half a century and has given rise to a vast and
scattered literature : accordingly, while we have occasionally given
detailed consideration to earlier studies that have, in our view, been
particularly valuable, we have tended for the most part to concentrate
on more recent publications, namely those appearing in the last ten
years or so. Again, for reasons less valid but perhaps understandable,
some degree of bias in our selection of topics may have resulted from
our own research interests.
Our general approach has been to deal with the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles in the sea in terms of (1) the sea water-phytoplankton
relationship (2) the phytoplankton-zooplankton relationship and
(3) the zooplankton-sea water relationship. In addition, as many of
the studies considered under these headings have involved laboratory
experiments using plants and animals confined in small volumes of sea
water, we have extended our treatment to include a final section dealing
with field observations that illustrate the interrelationships of plankton
and nutrient levels in the open sea.
11. THE CHEMICAL FORMS OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS
DISSOLVED IN SEA WATER
Throughout this review, we shall frequently refer to nitrate and
phosphate as important nutrients for phytoplankton growth. However,
the sea contains several other dissolved forms of nitrogen and phos-