Previously we have demonstrated that metabolic responses to N or P
limitation, notably carbohydrate and lipid induction, can be clearly determined
by FT-IR spectroscopy for two freshwater microalgae species,
C. reinhardtii and Scenedesmus subspicatus [5,6,25]. Here we show that a
marine microalga displays a similar nutrient limitation response, which
elicits a substantial change in FT-IR spectra, and thus two very distinct
spectra can be generated from the same species cultivated in just two
different conditions. This is similar to N limitation responses detected
by FT-IR spectroscopy analysis described previously for the related marine
alga Dunaliella salina [26].