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Carbon:phosphorus stoichiometry and food chain production
Author(s) -
Robert W. Sterner,
Jessica L. Clasen,
Winfried Lampert,
Thomas Weisse
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1461-0248.1998.00030.x
Subject(s) - biomass (ecology) , ecological stoichiometry , food chain , productivity , nutrient , phosphorus , environmental science , algae , carbon fibers , ecosystem , primary producers , plankton , ecology , primary productivity , herbivore , carbon cycle , nutrient cycle , phytoplankton , biology , chemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , composite number , economics , composite material , macroeconomics
Incident light was manipulated in large plankton towers containing algae, microbes, and herbivores. Paradoxically, food chain production was lower with greater light energy input. This apparent paradox is resolved by recognizing stoichiometric constraints to food chain production. At high light, elevated algal biomass was achieved mainly by increases in cellular carbon. Consumers have a high phosphorus demand for growth, and thus a large excess of carbon inhibited, rather than stimulated, their growth. These experiments may help us predict the consequences of anthropogenic perturbations in nutrients, carbon, and solar energy. They also may help us to understand the wide range of consumer biomass and production at a given level of primary productivity in ecosystems.