Highly Specialized Nitrogen Metabolism in a Freshwater Phytoplankter, Chrysochromulina breviturrita. Wehr, J., D., Brown, L., M., & O'Grady, K. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 44(4):736-742, 1987.
Highly Specialized Nitrogen Metabolism in a Freshwater Phytoplankter, Chrysochromulina breviturrita [pdf]Paper  abstract   bibtex   
: 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 H sub(2)SO sub(4) (Lake 302-South). The alga was able to utilize only NH sub(4) super(+) as an inorganic N source. A range of irradiances and molybdenum concentrations failed to induce NO sub(3) super(-) utilization. Among 17 organic N compounds including amino acids, purines, and other amines, only urea plus Ni super(2+) as a cofactor would serve as the sole N source for this species. It is suggested that the specialized NH sub(4) super(+) utilization by C. breviturrita) may itself influence the pH regime of poorly buffered waters through selective NH sub(4) super(+) uptake and H super(+) generation.

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