Aquatic ecology and Biodiversity

Unit 5- Productivity

5.2.8. Factors affecting uptake of nutrients

• Cell size – amount of surface area relative to volume; surface area/volume gets lower as cell gets bigger
• Nutritional state of cell
• Luxury uptake – cells take up more than they need
• Inhibition by internal stores
• Transport limitation
• sinking speed or swimming speed
• turbulence
• Inducible enzyme systems affect Ks
• Toxicity effects (if nutrient abundance too high)