Interference of chlorophyll a in liquid scintillation counting of phytoplankton productivity samples by the 14C technique

• Published in: Estuarine, coastal and shelf science Vol. 56; no. 5; pp. 957 - 960
• Main Authors: Nayar, S, Goh, B.P.L, Chou, L.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: 14C tracer technique; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; chlorophyll a; errors in productivity measurements; eutrophic waters; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects. Techniques; Methods and techniques (sampling, tagging, trapping, modelling...); peroxide addition; phytoplankton pigments; phytoplankton productivity; pigment interference; Ponggol estuary; scintillation counting; phytoplankton productivity; errors in productivity measurements; pigment interference; 14C tracer technique; scintillation counting; phytoplankton pigments; eutrophic waters; Ponggol estuary; chlorophyll a; peroxide addition; Brackish water environment; Estimation error; Tracer technique; Algae; Interference; Estuaries; Chlorophyll a; Eutrophication; Secondary productivity; Phytoplankton; Measurement method; Scintillation counter; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0272-7714; 1096-0015
• DOI: 10.1016/S0272-7714(02)00292-5

The
14C tracer technique for phytoplankton productivity measurements is one of the most precise techniques used widely by phytoplankton ecologists. Most researchers overlook the possible interference of high concentrations of chlorophyll
a during liquid scintillation counting, particularly in eutrophic ecosystems. Results from this study revealed that an optimal H
2O
2 volume of 150
μl, when added prior to scintillation counting, was sufficient to overcome an underestimation in phytoplankton productivity of up to 4.3%.