Article
Environmental Sciences
Tatsuro Tanioka, Catherine A. Garcia, Alyse A. Larkin, Nathan S. Garcia, Adam J. Fagan, Adam C. Martiny
Summary: Oceanic nutrient cycles are coupled, and carbon-nitrogen-phosphorus stoichiometry is variable through space and time. Surface temperature and macronutrient availability are strong predictors of stoichiometry at high latitudes. There is systematic regulation of elemental stoichiometry among ocean ecosystems, but future changes remain uncertain.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yuan Sun, Cuiting Wang, Xinli Chen, Shirong Liu, Xingjie Lu, Han Y. H. Chen, Honghua Ruan
Summary: Phosphorus addition significantly decreases N:P and C:P ratios in plant, soil, and microbial biomass, but has negligible effects on C:N ratios. The effects of phosphorus addition become more evident with higher application rates and longer experimental duration, and do not vary with ecosystem types or climates. Changes in N:P and C:P ratios in soil and microbial biomass are associated with changes in soil pH and fungi:bacteria ratios.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiahui Zhang, Mingxu Li, Li Xu, Jianxing Zhu, Guanhua Dai, Nianpeng He
Summary: Ecological stoichiometry is an efficient tool for exploring the balance and cycling of coupled elements. C:N:P ratios are essential in ecological models of productivity or C cycling. This study comprehensively calculated C:N:P ratios from organs to ecosystems in 66 typical natural ecosystems in China using the community biomass-weighted mean (CWM), showing significant differences among ecosystem types and biomes. Environmental conditions explain a substantial portion of the spatial variation of C:N:P ratios from organs to ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Bo Chen, Lyuyi Chen, Lan Jiang, Jing Zhu, Jiajia Chen, Qingrong Huang, Jinfu Liu, Daowei Xu, Zhongsheng He
Summary: The internal correlation and response to the environment of plant, litter and soil stoichiometric characteristics are important for understanding nutrient cycling mechanisms. However, little research has been done on nutrient relationships and stock along elevational gradients. In this study, we investigated the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus contents and stoichiometric ratios of plant, litter and soil layers at different elevations in Daiyun Mountain. The results showed significant correlations and coupling among plant, litter and soil nutrients, providing insights into nutrient cycling in the subtropical forest ecosystem of China.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lingfan Wan, Guohua Liu, Hao Cheng, Shishuai Yang, Yu Shen, Xukun Su
Summary: Global warming has a significant impact on plant biomass and C:N:P stoichiometry, but the specific effects are uncertain. This study used a meta-analysis approach to find that warming significantly increased plant biomass, C:N ratio, stem and root biomass, as well as C:N ratio in litter and soil, but decreased stem and root C:P ratios, as well as N:P and C:P ratios in soil. Additionally, the effects of warming on biomass and stoichiometry were driven by temperature changes, and the response patterns varied among different components (such as roots, leaves, and microbials).
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Zhuoxia Su, Bingqian Su, Shenglin Mao, Zhouping Shangguan
Summary: This study analyzed the ecological stoichiometric homeostasis of Robinia pseudoacacia in different climatic regions and found that R. pseudoacacia in the loess hilly region exhibits strong ecologically homeostatic characteristics.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Lina Shi, Zhenrong Lin, Xiaoting Wei, Cuoji Peng, Zeying Yao, Bing Han, Qing Xiao, Huakun Zhou, Yanfang Deng, Kesi Liu, Xinqing Shao
Summary: Temperature and precipitation are expected to increase in the forthcoming decades in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, but their interaction effects on plant and soil C:N:P stoichiometry in alpine ecosystems are uncertain. A two-year field experiment showed that warming increased aboveground biomass of legumes and N:P ratios of grasses and community, while precipitation increase reduced C:N ratios of soil, grasses, and community. The stable stoichiometry of soil and plant communities suggests that the effect of warming was offset by precipitation increase. The study highlights the importance of considering the interaction between warming and precipitation increase when predicting the impacts of climate change on biogeochemical cycles in alpine meadow ecosystems.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Yuan Sun, Cuiting Wang, Han Y. H. Chen, Xuesong Luo, Nianwei Qiu, Honghua Ruan, Bonnie G. Waring
Summary: Our study revealed the asymmetric responses of C:N:P stoichiometry in plant-soil-microorganism systems to precipitation changes, supporting the prediction of the double asymmetry model. This provides valuable insights into the understanding of C and N cycling and enhances our ability to predict ecosystem responses to precipitation changes.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jiwei Li, Lei Deng, Josep Penuelas, Jianzhao Wu, Zhouping Shangguan, Jordi Sardans, Changhui Peng, Yakov Kuzyakov
Summary: Precipitation changes have significant impacts on the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles in terrestrial ecosystems. This study analyzed a large number of observations from field studies to investigate the effects of increased and decreased precipitation on the stoichiometry of plants, soils, and microorganisms. The results showed that plants were more sensitive to decreased precipitation, while soil microbial communities were more sensitive to increased precipitation. Additionally, soil microorganisms maintained stoichiometric homeostasis, while plants tended to follow the stoichiometry of the soils. These findings highlight the importance of considering specific nutrient allocation strategies of plants and microbial communities in predicting ecosystem functions and carbon cycling under future climate change scenarios.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Lijuan Shi, Qingkang Li, Xiaoli Fu, Liang Kou, Xiaoqin Dai, Huimin Wang
Summary: The study found significant differences in the C:N:P stoichiometry among plant species and forest types, mainly constrained by rhizosphere soil. The C:N ratio in leaves and roots showed positive and negative correlations with that in rhizosphere soil, while the N:P ratio showed opposite relationships.
Article
Ecology
Benjamin Andrieux, Juliette Signor, Vincent Guillou, Michael Danger, Franck Jabot
Summary: The study aimed to document global variations in body stoichiometry of heterotrophs and assess the drivers of this variation, focusing on carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The research compiled a global database from scientific literature on body elemental composition, finding that the variations were significantly influenced by taxonomic groups, habitat, diet, and body mass. The results showed significant interspecific variability, with taxonomic group being the strongest contributor to the differences observed.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Lan Li, Jing Zhang, Xiong Zhao He, Fujiang Hou
Summary: The study revealed that different types of excrement (urine, dung, and mixtures) have varying effects on the C:N:P stoichiometry of plants and soil. While mixtures increased aboveground biomass, they also led to higher soil nutrient accumulations compared to urine and dung alone.
Article
Soil Science
Xiangrong Cheng, Wenli Xing, Wang Xiang
Summary: Afforestation in coastal reclaimed lands significantly affects the C, N, and P stoichiometry in the plant-soil system, particularly in the microbial biomass due to reduced P availability. The effect of reclamation time on microbial resource use limitations in the soil profile is relatively small.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zongkai Yu, Chao Zhang, Xiaowei Liu, Jichu Lei, Qiang Zhang, Zhiyou Yuan, Changhui Peng, Sally E. Koerner, Jianchu Xu, Liang Guo
Summary: Plants, soils, and microorganisms have essential roles in maintaining stable terrestrial stoichiometry, but the effects of warming on their stoichiometric relationships are not well understood. This meta-analysis of 600 case studies found that warming had inconsistent effects on the stoichiometric ratios of plants, soils, and microorganisms, with noticeable effects on plant N:P ratios. However, the stoichiometric correlations among all three components remained constant across different warming scenarios. These findings highlight the complexity of the warming effects on C:N:P stoichiometry and the need for simultaneous measurements in future studies.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Zhiying Ning, Xueyong Zhao, Yulin Li, Lilong Wang, Jie Lian, Hongling Yang, Yuqiang Li
Summary: Grassland has suffered serious desertification due to inappropriate human activity in arid and semi-arid areas, disrupting ecosystem structure and function. Desertification has led to non-proportional losses of soil organic C and nutrients, with the greatest loss for organic C, followed by total N and total P. Plant community C:N:P stoichiometry was mediated by soil nutrients and plant functional groups driven by soil nutrient changes during desertification.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ryan Bergstrom, Lucinda B. Johnson, Robert W. Sterner, George S. Bullerjahn, Josh T. Fergen, John D. Lenters, Patricia E. Norris, Alan D. Steinman
Summary: Climate-driven disturbances pose a threat to the sustainability of coastal communities in the Great Lakes Basin. These disturbances are unpredictable and occur at varying scales, making it challenging for communities to respond effectively. Addressing the relationship between climate-driven disturbances and community response is the focus of the Climate Governance Variability in the Great Lakes Research Coordination Network (CGVG-RCN).
JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Marika A. Schulhof, Dedmer B. Van de Waal, Steven A. J. Declerck, Jonathan B. Shurin
Summary: Functional trade-offs play a key role in determining the diversity of communities and the changes in species composition along environmental gradients. A trade-off between predator defense and resource competitive ability could maintain diversity in lake phytoplankton. Trade-offs may promote diversity in communities where grazing- and resource-limited taxa coexist, which affects whether communities are more resource- or consumer-controlled.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tin Phan, Changhan He, Irakli Loladze, Clay Prater, Jim Elser, Yang Kuang
Summary: Cells employ multiple strategies to maintain optimal protein production rate under different nutrient conditions. Mathematical models provide a theoretical foundation to explain these strategies and generate testable hypotheses. Studies show that strategies used under C and P limitations result in faster growth dynamics.
Article
Ecology
Cecilia Laspoumaderes, Cedric L. Meunier, Amaru Magnin, Johanna Berlinghof, James J. Elser, Esteban Balseiro, Gabriela Torres, Beatriz Modenutti, Nelly Tremblay, Maarten Boersma
Summary: In this study, we analyzed the thermal response of phosphorus requirements in different aquatic invertebrate ectotherms. We found that these organisms share a non-linear cubic thermal response, with phosphorus requirements decreasing at low to intermediate temperatures, increasing at higher temperatures, and decreasing again at excessive temperatures. This common thermal response is of great importance for understanding and predicting the impact of global warming and nutrient-driven eutrophication on ectotherm communities.
Review
Ecology
Jana Isanta-Navarro, Clay Prater, Logan M. Peoples, Irakli Loladze, Tin Phan, Punidan D. Jeyasingh, Matthew J. Church, Yang Kuang, James J. Elser
Summary: The growth rate hypothesis (GRH) proposes that variation in organismal stoichiometry is driven by the allocation of P to ribosomal RNA during growth. This hypothesis has received broad support, but not consistent, in studies across different organisms and habitats. This article synthesizes information on how and why the predicted relationship between growth, RNA, and P may be uncoupled and suggests paths for further theoretical and empirical work to expand the understanding of the GRH. The study found strong support for the relationships between growth and RNA, and RNA-P and P, but weaker support for the relationship between growth and P. The uncoupling of the GRH can be attributed to physiological, ecological, and evolutionary factors. These factors should be considered in empirical tests of the GRH and mathematically formalized to enhance the predictive understanding of growth.
Article
Ecology
Patrick K. Thomas, Charlotte Kunze, Dedmer B. Van de Waal, Helmut Hillebrand, Maren Striebel
Summary: Primary consumers in aquatic ecosystems are limited by the quality of their food, with significant negative effects on zooplankton performance. Nutrient co-limitation is strong in zooplankton, and the effects of essential fatty acid limitation depend on phosphorus availability. Indirect effects induced by phosphorus limitation exceed direct effects of mineral phosphorus limitation. The effects of nutrient amendments using laboratory phytoplankton isolates exceed those using natural field communities.
Article
Ecology
Alyse A. Larkin, George Hagstrom, Melissa L. Brock, Nathan S. Garcia, Adam C. Martiny
Summary: By using an improved metagenomic approach, we estimated the spatial distribution and environmental regulation of ecotype-specific replication patterns in different ocean regions. Our study revealed distinct diel cycles in replication patterns within different ecotypes, as well as systematic biogeographies that differed from patterns in relative abundance. We also found that replication patterns were significantly influenced by nutrient stress and temperature, and were explained by genomic differences in nutrient transport, energy production, cell wall structure, and replication. This work adds a new dimension to our understanding of microbial niche space by examining the interactions between adaptation, environmental change, and replication patterns across ocean basins.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ralf C. H. Aben, Mandy Velthuis, Garabet Kazanjian, Thijs Frenken, Edwin T. H. M. Peeters, Dedmer B. Van de Waal, Sabine Hilt, Lisette N. de Senerpont Domis, Leon P. M. Lamers, Sarian Kosten
Summary: This study demonstrates that the effect of experimental warming on greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes differs depending on the dominance of different functional plant types in inland waters. Specifically, the response to warming was strongest for free-floating plants and lowest for submerged plants. Importantly, the anticipated shift from submerged plants to algae or free-floating plants with warming may increase total GHG emissions from shallow waters, representing a positive climate feedback that has been overlooked. Management strategies aimed at promoting submerged plant dominance can significantly mitigate GHG emissions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kirsten S. Rhude, Robert W. Sterner
Summary: Despite population declines in other Great Lakes, the amphipod Diporeia remains dominant in Lake Superior. It is most abundant in the slope region at depths of 30-125 m. Contrary to the hypothesis, food does not explain its habitat preference, but rather physical characteristics such as grain size.
JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Douwe S. S. de Bruijn, Dedmer B. B. van de Waal, Nico R. R. Helmsing, Wouter Olthuis, Albert van den Berg
Summary: Calcifying algae, such as coccolithophores, play a crucial role in the oceanic carbon cycle. This study presents a new microfluidic impedance cytometer that can assess the calcification state of individual coccolithophore cells, providing support for high-throughput analysis and predictions of the future marine carbon cycle.
Article
Ecology
Alena S. Gsell, Arjen Biere, Wietse de Boer, Irene de Bruijn, Gotz Eichhorn, Thijs Frenken, Stefan Geisen, Henk van Der Jeugd, Kyle Mason-Jones, Annelein Meisner, Madhav P. Thakur, Ellen van Donk, Mark P. Zwart, Dedmer B. Van de Waal
Summary: Parasite performance-response curves are expected to be broader than those of their hosts. However, certain environmental conditions may limit parasite performance more than the host, providing an environmental refuge from disease. Environmental disease refuges respond to global change and not just climate warming.
Article
Ecology
Jennifer B. H. Martiny, Adam C. Martiny, Eoin Brodie, Alexander B. Chase, Alejandra Rodriguez-Verdugo, Kathleen K. Treseder, Steven D. Allison
Summary: Microorganisms are crucial for biogeochemical processes and ecosystem services, but their functioning is highly sensitive to environmental change. Evolutionary processes could play a role in this response, yet few models consider how microbial evolution affects biogeochemical responses. We propose a framework that integrates evolution into microbiome-functioning relationships, considering four interrelated processes (physiological acclimation, demography, dispersal, and evolution). Recent evidence suggests that ecological and evolutionary dynamics occur simultaneously within microbiomes, but the implications for biogeochemistry under environmental change depend on timescales. Over the long term, evolution may play an increasingly important role in microbially driven biogeochemical responses to unprecedented conditions.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hui Jin, Dedmer B. Van de Waal, Casper H. A. van Leeuwen, Leon P. M. Lamers, Steven A. J. Declerck, Ana Luisa Amorim, Elisabeth S. Bakker
Summary: Land-water transition areas play a significant role in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Anthropogenic pressures pose severe threats on these areas, leading to the degradation of ecological integrity in lakes worldwide. Restoring land-water transition areas can enhance habitat complexity, stimulate primary productivity, and ultimately restore higher trophic levels in degraded aquatic ecosystems.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robert T. Letscher, J. Keith Moore, Adam C. Martiny, Michael W. Lomas
Summary: Earth System Models predict that warming in the 21st century will lead to increased stratification in the upper ocean, reducing marine net primary productivity and carbon export. Recent studies have found significant variability in the stoichiometry of marine carbon and nutrients, particularly in low-latitude oligotrophic systems. Changes in nutrient flux and phytoplankton community composition are likely to affect the ocean's biogeochemical response and feedback with the carbon-climate system. A new model has been developed to incorporate these factors, revealing the important role of pico-phytoplankton in global productivity and the biological carbon pump.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Lucas J. Ustick, Alyse A. Larkin, Adam C. Martiny
Summary: Functional and phylogenetic diversity within the Prochlorococcus HLII ecotype were characterized using Bio-GO-SHIP metagenomes. Widespread variation in gene frequency connected to environmental conditions was found. A novel HLII-P haplotype, adapted to chronically low P conditions, was discovered. This study represents the first global assessment of the HLII ecotype's phylogeography and functional differences.
