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Science 11 May 1979:
Vol. 204. no. 4393, pp. 620 - 622
DOI: 10.1126/science.204.4393.620
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Articles

Nitrogen-Fixing Anabaena: Physiological Adaptations Instrumental in Maintaining Surface Blooms

HANS W. PAERL 1 and PENELOPE E. KELLAR 1

1 Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Process Research Division, Post Office Box 5050, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Both laboratory and in situ studies indicate that the nitrogen-fixing blue-green nuisance algae Anabaena spp. have developed adaptive means of dominating surface lake waters. During the dramatic diurnal shifts in surface light intensity and oxygen saturation accompanying blooms, Anabaena can overcome oxygen toxicity by sequential optimization of carbon dioxide and nitrogen fixation and by pigment alteration. These mechanisms allow optimal utilization of the radiant energy while minimizing competition for photoreductant between two main energy-demanding processes.

Submitted on November 3, 1978
Revised on January 29, 1979


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Effect of cell flotation on growth of Anabaena circinalis under diurnally stratified conditions.
K. J. Westwood and G. G. Ganf (2004)
J. Plankton Res. 26, 1183-1197
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Role of Chemotaxis in Establishing a Specific Nitrogen-Fixing Cyanobacterial-Bacterial Association.
H. W. PAERL and K. K. GALLUCCI (1985)
Science 227, 647-649
   Abstract »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)