Changes in pigmentation of phytoplankton species during growth and stationary phase — consequences for reliability of pigment-based methods of biomass determination

In applied water ecology several methods for estimating the biomass or activity of phytoplankton depend on the proportion of accessory pigments (xanthophylls) to chlorophyll a. Therefore, changes in pigmentation during growth and stationary phase were investigated in four different species (Amphidinium klebsii, Euglena gracilis, Prymnesium parvum, Cryptomonas ovata) typical representatives of the major algal groups. The ratios of the different xanthophylls to chlorophyll a depended not only on the growth phase, but also on the species. InAmphidinium andEuglena, the ratio of xanthophylls to chlorophyll rises continuously during the growth phase and declined during the stationary phase. InPry…