Nitrogen and Phosphorus Nutrition of Cladophora in the Peel-Harvey Estuarine System, Western Australia

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Abstract
C. aff. albida (Huds.) Kutz. is a benthic alga which grows in nuisance proportions in the shallow Peel-Harvey Estuarine System of Western Australia. Tissue analyses revealed that although N and P contents varied seasonally, the alga was rarely below the minimum N tissue content necessary for maximum growth but always below this concentration for P. Lower tissue concentrations in summer and autumn suggested that the alga relied to some extent on stored N and P; at this time nutrient supply rates were insufficient to keep pace with higher growth rates. In winter and spring accumulation of N and P into the tissue occurred; this can be related to high nutrient input from rivers. Other potentially important sources of nutrients were the surface sediments and decomposing Cladophora and phytoplankton. The full storage potential Cladophora (demonstrated experimentally) was not reached at this time primarily because high river flow was confined to only a few weeks. Tissue analyses of Cladophora, when combined with laboratory experimentation, assisted in intepreting the role of nutrient storage and showed that P may be an important factor in the control of Cladophora growth in the estuary.