Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of the 14C Technique and Its Use in Studies of Primary Production

Abstract
Theoretical and experimental field studies of 14C uptake by marine phytoplankton were carried out to determine environmental conditions required for the technique to measure net photosynthesis. Theoretical studies indicate that rapidly metabolizing populations (rate constants for gross photosynthesis and respiration of 0.1 h-1 and 0.007 h-1, respectively) may saturate with 14C after about 30 h of continuous irradiation. Results of field studies indicate that a minimum of 24 h are required for net photosynthesis to be measured when daily irradiations exceed 20 cal cm-2 and nutrient limitation of photosynthesis does not occur. Additional measurments that may be made to aid in interpreting results obtained by the 14C technique are briefly discussed.

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