Show simple item record

dc.contributor.authorHall, Spencer R.
dc.contributor.authorSmith, Val H.
dc.contributor.authorLytle, David A.
dc.contributor.authorLeibold, Mathew A.
dc.date.accessioned2015-02-23T18:14:35Z
dc.date.available2015-02-23T18:14:35Z
dc.date.issued2005-07-01
dc.identifier.citationSpencer R. Hall, Val H. Smith, David A. Lytle, and Mathew A. Leibold 2005. CONSTRAINTS ON PRIMARY PRODUCER N:P STOICHIOMETRY ALONG N:P SUPPLY RATIO GRADIENTS. Ecology 86:1894–1904. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/04-1045en_US
dc.identifier.issn0012-9658
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1808/16743
dc.description.abstractA current principle of ecological stoichiometry states that the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio (N:P) of primary producers should closely match that from environmental nutrient supplies. This hypothesis was tested using data from ponds in Michigan, USA, a freshwater mesocosm experiment, a synthesis of studies from diverse systems (cultures, lakes, streams, and marine and terrestrial environments), and simple dynamic models of producer growth and nutrient content. Unlike prior laboratory studies, the N:P stoichiometry of phytoplankton in Michigan ponds clustered around and below the Redfield ratio (7.2:1 by mass), despite wide variation in N:P supply ratios (2:1–63:1 by mass) and the presence of grazers. In a mesocosm experiment, the N:P stoichiometry of phytoplankton cells again deviated from a nearly 1:1 relationship with N:P supply. Phytoplankton seston exhibited lower N:P content than expected at high N:P supply ratios, and often higher N:P content than anticipated at low N:P supply ratios, regardless of herbivore presence. Similar deviations consistently occur in the N:P stoichiometry of algae and plants in the other diverse systems. The models predicted that both high loss rates (sinking, grazing) and physiological limits to nutrient storage capacity could attenuate producer stoichiometry. In the future, research should evaluate how limits to elemental plasticity of producers can influence the role of stoichiometry in structuring communities and ecosystem processes.en_US
dc.publisherEcological Society of Americaen_US
dc.rightsCopyright by the Ecological Society of America
dc.subjectaquatic ecosystemsen_US
dc.subjectfood websen_US
dc.subjectgrazersen_US
dc.subjectnitrogen:phosphorus ratioen_US
dc.subjectN:Pen_US
dc.subjectprimary producersen_US
dc.subjectquota saturationen_US
dc.subjectRedfield ratioen_US
dc.subjectstoichiometryen_US
dc.titleConstraints on primary producer N:P stoichiometry along N:P supply ratio gradientsen_US
dc.typeArticle
kusw.kuauthorSmith, Val H.
kusw.kudepartmentEcology and Evolutionary Biologyen_US
dc.identifier.doi10.1890/04-1045
kusw.oaversionScholarly/refereed, publisher version
kusw.oapolicyThis item does not meet KU Open Access policy criteria.
dc.rights.accessrightsopenAccess


Files in this item

Thumbnail

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record