Time course of 32P-phosphate removal from the external medium during three consecutive pulses of 250 nM phosphate. The content of bacterial phosphorus of the suspension of A. variabilis was likewise 250 nmol·L−1. The curves represent the best computer fit using the non linear equation: d[Pe]/dt = − 1 · (ln[Pe]−ln[Pe]A) − L · ( ln[Pe]−ln[Pe]A)m, with the parameters: L = 0.013 nM min−1, [Pe]A = 6.42 nM, m = 5 (first pulse); L = 5.64 ·10−3 nM min−1, [Pe]A = 4.95 nM, m = 5 (second pulse); L = 0.397 nM min−1, [Pe]A = 14.26 nM, m = 3 (third pulse).