Abstract
Most ecosystem models consolidate members of food-webs, e.g. species, into a small number of functional components. Each of these is then described by a single state variable such as biomass. When a multivariate approach incorporating multiple substances within components is substituted for this univariate one, a 'stoichiometric' model is formed. Here we show that the Nitrogen:Phosphorus ratio within zooplankton herbivores varies substantially intraspecifically but not intraspecifically. By using stoichiometric theory and recent measurements of the N:P ratio within different zooplankton taxa, we calculate large differences in ratios of nutrients recycled by different zooplankton species. Finally, we demonstrate that N:P stoichiometry can successfully account for shifts in N- and P-limitation previously observed in whole-lake experiments. Species stoichiometry merges food-web dynamics with biogeochemical cycles to yield new insights.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 49-67 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | Biogeochemistry |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1992 |
Keywords
- algae
- nitrogen
- nutrient
- phosphorus
- regeneration
- zooplankton