Production des micro-algues des claires ostréicoles en relation avec l'azote organique dissous excrété par les huîtres

Estimations of algal growth potential (AGP) of oyster-pond waters have been made by the use of bioassays and nutrient analysis. Data obtained demonstrated that nitrogen is the nutrient Iimiting AGP and that an important part of algal biomass is supported by organic nutrients. Such an uptake ranges from 0.6 to 30.7 µg-at.I-1 nitrogen ; which represents up to six times the total amount of inorganic nitrogen taken up. U.V oxydation and subsequent chemical analysis shown DON concentrations in oyster-pond waters varied with oyster presence or absence: values recorded were 10-40 µg-at N.I-1 when oysters were not present, and up to 50-60 µg-at N.I-1 when oysters were covering the bottom of the pond. The oyster Crassostrea gigas was demonstrated to excrete 77-93 % DON, versus 10-33 % N-NH4; urea excretion often represented three folds the NH4 excretion. The capability to take up organic nutrients varies with algal species ; the diatom Navicula ostrearia appeared to be the most efficient one.