Nitrogen utilisation by size-fractionated phytoplankton assemblages associated with an upwelling event off Westland, New Zealand

Uptake rates of ammonium (NH 4 + ), nitrate (NO 3 − ), and urea by three subgroups of phytoplankton (< 200, < 20, < 2 μm) off Westland, were measured using 15 N tracer techniques in midwinter 1988, after a recent upwelling. For all size fractions at surface irradiance (I 100 ), nitrogen (N) was taken up primarily as NO 3 − . This accounted for 67-85% of total N uptake (SρN), whereas at 40 and 7% of surface irradiance, the regenerated N (NH 4 + ) and urea) made up 31-72% of SρN. Depth profile experiments for all three size components showed that uptake of NO 3 − was most light-sensitive, followed by that of NH 4 + and urea. The irradiance and nutrient availability plot indicated that light was substantially more important than the nutrient concentrations in controlling the assimilation of N by microplankton (20-200 μm). Nano- (2-20 μm) and picoplankton (< 2 μm) however, were not as sensitive to either light or nutrient concentrations. High winds and the resulting deep mixing, combined with offshore and alongshore advection in the midwinter, were suggested to be the major cause of the low biomass and N productivity.