Inter-Research
Aquatic Microbial Ecology

ABSTRACT: For autotrophic and heterotrophic protists, we reviewed growth rate versus temperature data (92 cases, 74 species, 36 studies), using non-linear curve-fitting methods to determine whether relationships were linear. Of the 92 cases, 67 contained sufficient data for analysis; 61 did not significantly differ from a linear response (mean slope: 0.064 ± 0.005 d^-1 °C^-1). Of the 25 cases that were not statistically analysed, 18 appeared linear. The mean slope of the 79 data sets considered to be linear was 0.07 ± 0.005 (d^-1 °C^-1). We suggest that growth rate usually responds linearly to temperature, the use of Q10 may be inappropriate, and a Q10 of 2 may arise due to this linear relationship and inappropriate experimental design.

KEY WORDS: Arrhenius · Ciliate · Diatom · Dinoflagellate · Flagellate · Meta-analysis · Model · Protist

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Published in AME Vol. 32, No. 3 (2003) on July 14
Print ISSN: 0948-3055; Online ISSN: 1616-1564. Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2003