An algal pigment ratio as an indicator of the nitrogen supply to phytoplankton in three Norfolk broads

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Abstract
SUMMARY. A pigment ratio representing the ratio of carotenoid pigments to chlorophyll‐a was calculated by dividing the optical density at 480 nm by that at 664 nm for a 90% acetone extract of phytoplankton. Its seasonal variation in three Norfolk broads was examined and, except for nitrogen‐fixing species, it was found to vary independently of the algal species composition.A good inverse correlation with the particulate nitrogen to carbon ratio was found. The seasonal variation in the pigment ratio was considerably affected by measurable lake concentrations of inorganic nitrogen supplied from ttie catchment. Other sources of nitrogen such as nitrogen fixation and release from the sediment were also indicated by changes in the ratio.By comparison with the distinctions of extreme, moderate and no nitrogen deficiency drawn by Healey (1975) for the nitrogen/carbon ratio, values for the pigment ratio of < 1.4, 1.4–2.4 and > 2.4 were found to indicate no, moderate and extreme nitrogen deficiency respectively in the phytoplankton. The relation ship is attributed to the measurement of secondary carotenoids in response to nitrogen deficiency.