TY - JOUR
T1 - Estimating phytoplankton carbon from microscopic counts
T2 - An application for riverine systems
AU - Gosselain, Véronique
AU - Hamilton, Paul Brian
AU - Descy, Jean Pierre
PY - 2000/11/1
Y1 - 2000/11/1
N2 - Algal biomass, in addition to cell numbers, is a measure of the successful conversion of inorganic to organic carbon. Consequently, carbon is the main currency used in aquatic models and in flux and budget studies. On the other hand, microscopic observation and counts remain the only means for determining species composition and biomass, which is relevant to many aspects of aquatic ecology. In this study, we focus on the way to convert biovolume to carbon biomass for algal assemblages of two rivers, using a computerized system that records dimensions of phytoplankton (Gosselain & Hamilton, 2000). We first compare different equations found in the literature for converting algal cell volume to cellular carbon content. We then evaluate the accuracy of a biomass estimate based on less time-consuming measurements, using pre-determined biovolume values instead of measuring cells in all samples. Biovolume/carbon equations are evaluated using total phytoplankton carbon biomass determined from measured chlorophyll a. Equations established for freshwater taxa seem to provide better estimates of algal biomass in the two case studies presented here, the Rideau and Meuse rivers (Canada and Belgium, respectively) than do more numerous equations defined for marine taxa. Furthermore, equations that make a distinction between diatoms and other algae appear more appropriate than those considering all algal groups as a whole. Finally, mean values of algal biovolumes, determined using sufficient measurements of cell dimensions from representative sampling series, may prove sufficient for carbon estimates of taxa in relatively homogenous size ranges. The careful choice of appropriate volumetric shapes and taxa categories remains of prime importance to get precise results.
AB - Algal biomass, in addition to cell numbers, is a measure of the successful conversion of inorganic to organic carbon. Consequently, carbon is the main currency used in aquatic models and in flux and budget studies. On the other hand, microscopic observation and counts remain the only means for determining species composition and biomass, which is relevant to many aspects of aquatic ecology. In this study, we focus on the way to convert biovolume to carbon biomass for algal assemblages of two rivers, using a computerized system that records dimensions of phytoplankton (Gosselain & Hamilton, 2000). We first compare different equations found in the literature for converting algal cell volume to cellular carbon content. We then evaluate the accuracy of a biomass estimate based on less time-consuming measurements, using pre-determined biovolume values instead of measuring cells in all samples. Biovolume/carbon equations are evaluated using total phytoplankton carbon biomass determined from measured chlorophyll a. Equations established for freshwater taxa seem to provide better estimates of algal biomass in the two case studies presented here, the Rideau and Meuse rivers (Canada and Belgium, respectively) than do more numerous equations defined for marine taxa. Furthermore, equations that make a distinction between diatoms and other algae appear more appropriate than those considering all algal groups as a whole. Finally, mean values of algal biovolumes, determined using sufficient measurements of cell dimensions from representative sampling series, may prove sufficient for carbon estimates of taxa in relatively homogenous size ranges. The careful choice of appropriate volumetric shapes and taxa categories remains of prime importance to get precise results.
KW - Biomass
KW - Centric diatoms
KW - Phytoplankton counts
KW - River
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034314259&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/A:1004161928957
DO - 10.1023/A:1004161928957
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0034314259
SN - 0018-8158
VL - 438
SP - 75
EP - 90
JO - Hydrobiologia
JF - Hydrobiologia
ER -