An evaluation of two diffusion culture techniques for estimating phytoplankton growth rates In situ

In comparative tests, acrylic diffusion chambers (voltume=42 ml) with polycarbonate filter membranes (1 m pore diameter) consistently supported higher cell yields and faster growth rates of summer phytoplankton populations and species from Narragansett Bay than did dialysis bags (volume=50 ml, 0.24–0.48 nm pore diameter) or bottle cultures (with or without added nutrients). Stirring of diffusion chambers or dialysis bags had less effect on growth responses than did the choice of the containment membrane. Exchange measurements showed the polycarbonate filters (0.49 ml cm^-2 h^-1) to be five times more permeable than dialysis membranes (0.09 ml cm^-2 h^-1) per unit area. The mean of measured half-life times for water in diffusion chambers was less than one hour while comparable half-life times for dialysis bags were approximately 3 h. Diatoms from the <10 m size fraction had higher growth rates than assemblages of microflagellates and non-motile ultraplankton. Stirring of diffusion chambers did not adversly effect the growth of microflagellates or non-motile ultraplankton. Growth responses in diffusion chambers moored in situ were generally similar to those measured in diffusion chambers incubated in outdoor tanks connected to a running seawater system.