Separation of marine seston and density determination of marine diatoms by density gradient centrifugation

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Abstract
An attempt has been made to separate constituents of marine seston samples: inorganic material, detritus and the algal species, by density gradient centrifugation, without affecting the physiological state of the algae. A relatively inert gradient material, consisting of Percoll, salt and sucrose, was composed. Since the densities of detritus and algae as well as those of different algal species often overlapped, only 10 of the 100 samples processed in the course of the year showed a reasonable separation. However, an enrichment with respect to one or more species was often achieved. Densities of eleven species of marine diatoms and of one dinoflagellate have been determined at different times of the year. For eight diatom species and for the dinoflagellate the following specific density ranges were established: Bidduiphia aurita: 1.18–1.23 g cm−3, Biddulphia sinensis: 1.03–1.08 g cm−3, Cerataulina bergonii: 1.03–1.06 g cm−3, Ditylum brightwellii: 1.07–1.13 g cm−3, Rhizosolenia delicatula: 1.04–1.09 g cm−3, Skeletonema costatum: 1.12–1.17 g cm−3, Streptotheca thamensis: 1.04–1.10 g cm−3 , Thalassiosira rotula: 1.05–1.10 g cm−3, Peridinium sp.: 1.08–1.12 g cm−3. No seasonal variation in density was demonstrated. Gradients of different composition did not influence density measurements.

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