Many phytoplankton exploit phosphorus (P) from organic sources when dissolved inorganic P (DIP) is depleted. This process is, however, rarely considered in ecological and biogeochemical models. We present a mechanistic model describing explicitly the ability of phytoplankton to use dissolved organic P (DOP) when DIP is limiting, by synthesizing alkaline phosphatase (AP) that releases DIP from DOP. This model, applicable to any phytoplankton species expressing AP, is here specifically developed for the colony-forming Phaeocystis globosa. It describes the main processes related to P metabolism, including DIP transport, intracellular accumulation and assimilation. Model behaviour is explored in DIP-limiting batch-type conditions for different DOP ranging between 0 and 1.5 mmol P m 23. Simulations show that the DOP-derived DIP increases the maximum biomass reached and extends the period of net growth. The magnitude of the enhanced biomass production is controlled by the DOP initially present as well as the released DOP, the latter being recycled by lysis of P. globosa cells. We also present a simplified model version derived from the mechanistic model, which involves fewer state variables and parameters. The latter is directly usable in both variable (quota-type) and fixed stoichiometry descriptions of phytoplankton growth.

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Mixotrophy, i.e., the ability to combine phototrophy and phagotrophy in one organism, is now recognized to be widespread among photic-zone protists and to potentially modify the structure and functioning of planktonic ecosystems. However, few biogeochemical/ecological models explicitly include this mode of nutrition, owing to the large diversity of observed mixotrophic types, the few data allowing the parameterization of physiological processes, and the need to make the addition of mixotrophy into existing ecosystem models as simple as possible. We here propose and discuss a flexible model that depicts the main observed behaviors of mixotrophy in microplankton. A first model version describes constitutive mixotrophy (the organism photosynthesizes by use of its own chloroplasts). This model version offers two possible configurations, allowing the description of constitutive mixotrophs (CMs) that favor either phototrophy or heterotrophy. A second version describes non-constitutive mixotrophy (the organism performs phototrophy by use of chloroplasts acquired from its prey). The model variants were described so as to be consistent with a plankton conceptualization in which the biomass is divided into separate components on the basis of their biochemical function (Shuter-approach;Shuter, 1979). The two model variants of mixotrophy can easily be implemented in ecological models that adopt the Shuter-approach, such as the MIRO model (Lancelot et al., 2005), and address the challenges associated with modeling mixotrophy.