BACTERIA AND THE PHOSPHORUS CYCLE IN THE SEA

Abstract

The numbers of bacteria in the sea and in large lakes are very low. At any moment they represent an insignificant fraction of the biologically bound P, though their rapid growth rate makes them potential accumulators of this element. Some laboratory exps. indicate that the relation observed in nature is maintained by the short viable period, high death rate, and rapid lysis of bacterial cells. Phosphate assimilated from decomposing plankton is held as bacterial cell substance for a very short time. Following death and lysis it is regenerated as inorganic phosphate. Bacteria function in marine biological economy chiefly as agents of regeneration.