Nutrient Limitation of Marine Microbial Production: Fact or Artefact?

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Abstract
The popular view of marine phototrophic (“primary”) production being limited by nutrient availability is questioned because of inbuilt faults in experiment design and ossible errors in incorporation of inorganic nutrients, especially of NO;. These events are typical of immature ecosystems in which nutrient cycling is poorly developed. Microbial loop production is tightly coupled with average zero net production and low levels, but high fluxes, of key nutrients. Moreover, experimental methods may interfere with microbial processes creating artefacts and resulting in a diagnosis of nutrient deprivation. interpretation. There appears to be a preoccupation with high net rates of Y14CO2-tixation and incorporation of inorganic nutrients, especially of NO3. These events are typical of immature ecosystems in which nutrient cycling is poorly developed. Microbial loop production is tightly coupled with average zero net production and low levels, but high fluxes, of key nutrients. Moreover, experimental methods may interfere with microbial processes creating artefacts and resulting in a diagnosis of nutrient deprivation.