Inorganic nitrogen uptake by symbiotic marine cnidarians: a critical review

Abstract

The physiological data support host involvement in net ammonium uptake by intact symbioses. The evidence for nitrate assimilation by intact symbioses is equivocal. The depletion-diffusion model can account for net ammonium uptake by intact symbioses, but is inadequate to account for phosphate or nitrate uptake by symbioses. There is no evidence for nitrogen limitation as the means by which the host regulates algal growth in symbiosis; phosphorus limitation appears to be more likely.