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Two marine diatoms were studied singly and in mixed culture. Thalassiosira pseudonana (Hust.) Hade & Heimdal was capable of a higher growth rate (μmax) than Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin. In two-species batch cultures P. tricornutum took over in the latter portion of the exponential phase, possibly due to allelopathy. The filtrate from this species caused an initial lag phase and a reduced terminal population density for T. pseudonana. Two-species continuous cultures showed verification of these interactions. At high dilution rate (i.e., high growth rate) P. tricornutum washed out when added at low density, whereas T. pseudonana maintained constant cell density. However, when sufficient density of P. tricornutum was added as a contaminant, both species washed out. At a lower dilution rate P. tricornutum increased in density when added and eventually reached a stable population; T. pseudonana then washed out.

Nitrate uptake experiments were conducted at 18 and 25 C on subtropical and temperate isolates of the neritic diatom Biddulphia aurita (Lyngb.) Breb. & Godey. Two clones (STX-88 and B1) were grown in a 12:12 LD cycle in NO3-limited continuous cultures used for uptake experiments. The half-saturation constant (Ks) and the maximum NO3- uptake rate (Vm) were measured under conditions in which external NO3- concentration controlled uptake rate. The kinetic constants for both clones were higher at the higher temperature. The subtropical clone (STX-88) had lower kinetic values than temperate clone (B1) at both temperatures. The differences appear to be of adaptive significance since STX-88 has a NO3- uptake system, described by its lower Ks value, which minimizes the double stress effects of high temperature-low NO3- concentration conditions characteristic of its habitat. Cytoplasmic enzyme electrophoretic analyses were conducted on the clones. Differences in banding patterns and mobilities showed evidence of allelic substitution. The results suggest genetic variation at the intraspecific level.