Detecting silica deposition changes in diatoms due to variable nutrient concentrations using a fluorescent silica tracer in the waters of Barkley Sound, Canada

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of varying nutrient ratios on growing diatoms in Trevor Channel and Effingham Inlet. The study successfully determined the percentage of actively growing diatoms within a population using a new silica detection method (PDMPO stain). It was found that although the number of actively growing cells is similar in both areas, the percentages of the population that is actively growing are quite different.