Cryptic Constituents: The Paradox of High Flux–Low Concentration Components of Aquatic Ecosystems
The interface between terrestrial ecosystems and inland waters is an important link in the global carbon cycle. However, the extent to which allochthonous organic matter entering freshwater systems plays a major role in microbial and higher-trophic-level processes is under debate. Human perturbation...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/16/2301 |
| _version_ | 1797521722125058048 |
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| author | Malin Olofsson Mary E. Power David A. Stahl Yvonne Vadeboncoeur Michael T. Brett |
| author_facet | Malin Olofsson Mary E. Power David A. Stahl Yvonne Vadeboncoeur Michael T. Brett |
| author_sort | Malin Olofsson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The interface between terrestrial ecosystems and inland waters is an important link in the global carbon cycle. However, the extent to which allochthonous organic matter entering freshwater systems plays a major role in microbial and higher-trophic-level processes is under debate. Human perturbations can alter fluxes of terrestrial carbon to aquatic environments in complex ways. The biomass and production of aquatic microbes are traditionally thought to be resource limited via stoichiometric constraints such as nutrient ratios or the carbon standing stock at a given timepoint. Low concentrations of a particular constituent, however, can be strong evidence of its importance in food webs. High fluxes of a constituent are often associated with low concentrations due to high uptake rates, particularly in aquatic food webs. A focus on biomass rather than turnover can lead investigators to misconstrue dissolved organic carbon use by bacteria. By combining tracer methods with mass balance calculations, we reveal hidden patterns in aquatic ecosystems that emphasize fluxes, turnover rates, and molecular interactions. We suggest that this approach will improve forecasts of aquatic ecosystem responses to warming or altered nitrogen usage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:17:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6035108476134717ab7eb82d6f8fc93e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:17:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-6035108476134717ab7eb82d6f8fc93e2023-11-22T10:15:47ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-08-011316230110.3390/w13162301Cryptic Constituents: The Paradox of High Flux–Low Concentration Components of Aquatic EcosystemsMalin Olofsson0Mary E. Power1David A. Stahl2Yvonne Vadeboncoeur3Michael T. Brett4Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07 Uppsala, SwedenDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USAThe interface between terrestrial ecosystems and inland waters is an important link in the global carbon cycle. However, the extent to which allochthonous organic matter entering freshwater systems plays a major role in microbial and higher-trophic-level processes is under debate. Human perturbations can alter fluxes of terrestrial carbon to aquatic environments in complex ways. The biomass and production of aquatic microbes are traditionally thought to be resource limited via stoichiometric constraints such as nutrient ratios or the carbon standing stock at a given timepoint. Low concentrations of a particular constituent, however, can be strong evidence of its importance in food webs. High fluxes of a constituent are often associated with low concentrations due to high uptake rates, particularly in aquatic food webs. A focus on biomass rather than turnover can lead investigators to misconstrue dissolved organic carbon use by bacteria. By combining tracer methods with mass balance calculations, we reveal hidden patterns in aquatic ecosystems that emphasize fluxes, turnover rates, and molecular interactions. We suggest that this approach will improve forecasts of aquatic ecosystem responses to warming or altered nitrogen usage.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/16/2301turnover ratesinorganic nutrientscarbonnitrogenprimary production |
| spellingShingle | Malin Olofsson Mary E. Power David A. Stahl Yvonne Vadeboncoeur Michael T. Brett Cryptic Constituents: The Paradox of High Flux–Low Concentration Components of Aquatic Ecosystems Water turnover rates inorganic nutrients carbon nitrogen primary production |
| title | Cryptic Constituents: The Paradox of High Flux–Low Concentration Components of Aquatic Ecosystems |
| title_full | Cryptic Constituents: The Paradox of High Flux–Low Concentration Components of Aquatic Ecosystems |
| title_fullStr | Cryptic Constituents: The Paradox of High Flux–Low Concentration Components of Aquatic Ecosystems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cryptic Constituents: The Paradox of High Flux–Low Concentration Components of Aquatic Ecosystems |
| title_short | Cryptic Constituents: The Paradox of High Flux–Low Concentration Components of Aquatic Ecosystems |
| title_sort | cryptic constituents the paradox of high flux low concentration components of aquatic ecosystems |
| topic | turnover rates inorganic nutrients carbon nitrogen primary production |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/16/2301 |
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