Nitrogen Uptake, Assimilation, and Metabolism: Making Amino Acids and Protein

Many aspects of the physiology of nitrogen metabolism by phytoplankton have been known for decades, but it was the introduction of the 15N technique in the 1960s that led to new advances and new paradigms. This chapter provides an overview of the methods used for measuring nitrogen uptake by phytoplankton, the kinetics of nitrogen uptake, transport and enzyme regulation, and the role that different nitrogen forms play in shaping community composition.