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Contrasting effects of rising CO 2 on primary production and ecological stoichiometry at different nutrient levels
Author(s) -
Verspagen Jolanda M. H.,
Van de Waal Dedmer B.,
Finke Jan F.,
Visser Petra M.,
Huisman Jef
Publication year - 2014
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 - 10.1111/ele.12298
Subject(s) - chemostat , nutrient , ecological stoichiometry , phytoplankton , biomass (ecology) , primary producers , ecology , herbivore , environmental science , stoichiometry , nutrient cycle , population , biology , cyanobacteria , carbon fibers , environmental chemistry , chemistry , bacteria , mathematics , genetics , demography , organic chemistry , algorithm , sociology , composite number
Although rising CO 2 concentrations are thought to promote the growth and alter the carbon : nutrient stoichiometry of primary producers, several studies have reported conflicting results. To reconcile these contrasting results, we tested the following hypotheses: rising CO 2 levels (1) will increase phytoplankton biomass more at high nutrient loads than at low nutrient loads, but (2) will increase their carbon : nutrient stoichiometry more at low than at high nutrient loads. We formulated a mathematical model to predict dynamic changes in phytoplankton population density, elemental stoichiometry and inorganic carbon chemistry in response to rising CO 2 . The model was tested in chemostat experiments with the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa . The model predictions and experimental results confirmed the hypotheses. Our findings provide a novel theoretical framework to understand and predict effects of rising CO 2 concentrations on primary producers and their nutritional quality as food for herbivores under different nutrient conditions.