Scale in microscopic algal ecology: a neglected dimension

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Abstract
Scale is defined in terms of information flow. Hitherto it has been virtually ignored in algal ecology. This is offered as an explanation of the essential failure of phycologists to relate microscopic algae to their environment. Because short and long frequency phenomena cannot directly communicate, scale compartmentalizes environmental experience. Use of scaling strategies by organisms allows existence in resource-rich compartments and avoids exclusive existence in perturbed environmental compartments. Above 10 .mu., form can be used in scaling strategies while below that size subcellular manipulation including biochemical devices is the rule. The massive surface area of unicells makes inappropriate the models of nutrient uptake based on macroscopic concepts such as nutrient concentration per flask. This could explain the differences sometimes occurring between field and laboratory nutrient levels required for growth. Some consequences of scale difference between culture vials and lakes are offered as reasons for the general intransigence of experimental results and field observations. In multivariate analysis, the data set is the frame of reference with respect to the real world phenomenon while the transformation of the data gives the scale. Thus structure at several levels of organization may be exposed. Multivariate analysis shows that information at the culture vial level is removed from the level of the full annual cycle by 2 intervening levels; to the multispecies, open-water level, and species subsets in portions of the year. There is little relationship between the culture results and plankton succession. High order phenomena need high order explanations.

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