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Does microbial stoichiometry modulate eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems?
Author(s) -
Steenbergh A. K.,
Bodelier P. L. E.,
Heldal M.,
Slomp C. P.,
Laanbroek H. J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.12042
Subject(s) - anoxic waters , benthic zone , biology , organic matter , environmental chemistry , eutrophication , phosphorus , stoichiometry , nitrogen , ecosystem , remineralisation , ecological stoichiometry , nutrient , ecology , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , fluoride , organic chemistry
Summary The stoichiometry of prokaryotes ( B acteria and A rchaea ) can control benthic phosphorus ( P ) fluxes relative to carbon ( C ) and nitrogen ( N ) during organic matter remineralization. This paper presents the first experimental data on benthic microbial stoichiometry. We used X ‐ray microanalysis to determine C : N : P ratios of individual prokaryotes from C ‐limited B altic S ea sediments incubated under oxic or anoxic conditions. At approximately 400:1, C : P ratios of prokaryotes from both oxic and anoxic incubations were higher than the R edfield ratio for marine organic matter (106:1), whereas prokaryotic C : N ratios (6.4:1) were close to the R edfield ratio. We conclude that high microbial C : P ratios contribute to the enhanced remineralization of P from organic matter relative to C and N observed in many low oxygen marine settings.