Comment on "Nature of phosphorus limitation in the ultraoligotrophic eastern Mediterranean".
Thingstad et al. (Reports, 12 August 2005, p. 1068) reported that in situ mesoscale phosphorus enrichment of the eastern Mediterranean Sea altered selected biological parameters and concluded that the added phosphorus was rapidly transferred from bacteria to mesozooplankton. However, because of a lack of replication and a misinterpretation of their statistical analyses, that conclusion is not supported by the data.
Hale
Michelle S
MS
Ocean Science Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1C 5S7, Canada. mhale@mun.ca
Rivkin
Richard B
RB
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D033342:Copepoda / Q000502:physiology; D017753:Ecosystem; D020387:Food Chain; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis*; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D015048:Zooplankton / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D010710:Phosphates; D002734:Chlorophyll; D010758:Phosphorus; D000077194:Chlorophyll A