Homeostasis and non‐linear shift in the stoichiometry of P‐limited planktonic communities
Abstract Planktonic communities are naturally subjected to episodic nutrient enrichments that may stress or redress the imbalances in limiting nutrients. Human‐enhanced atmospheric nitrogen deposition has caused profound N:P imbalance in many remote oligotrophic lakes in which phosphorus has largely...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Ecosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3249 |
| _version_ | 1818299394373451776 |
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| author | Pau Giménez‐Grau Marisol Felip Aitziber Zufiaurre Sergi Pla‐Rabès Lluís Camarero Jordi Catalan |
| author_facet | Pau Giménez‐Grau Marisol Felip Aitziber Zufiaurre Sergi Pla‐Rabès Lluís Camarero Jordi Catalan |
| author_sort | Pau Giménez‐Grau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Planktonic communities are naturally subjected to episodic nutrient enrichments that may stress or redress the imbalances in limiting nutrients. Human‐enhanced atmospheric nitrogen deposition has caused profound N:P imbalance in many remote oligotrophic lakes in which phosphorus has largely become limiting. These lakes offer an opportunity to investigate the relationship between the changes in plankton stoichiometry, productivity, and community structure occurring during nutrient fluctuations in P‐limited conditions. We performed P (PO43‐) and N (NH4+ or NO3‐) pulse additions to the summer epilimnetic community of an ultraoligotrophic lake using self‐filling ~100‐L enclosures and analyzed the response to varying P availability, N:P imbalance, and N source. Seston C:N:P proportions remained fairly unchanged to P additions that were within the range of values seasonally found in the lake. However, the seston N:P ratio abruptly shifted and approached Redfield’s proportions at P additions typical of mesotrophic conditions that provided non‐limiting conditions. N surplus did not affect seston C:N:P proportions. The patterns of seston N:P stability and shift were similar for both N sources. In contrast, productivity was highly sensitive to low and medium P additions and decelerated at high P additions. Phytoplankton biomass dominated particulate organic matter. The autotrophic community differentiated almost linearly across the P gradient. Chrysophytes' dominance decreased, and diatoms and cryptophytes relative abundance increased. Nonetheless, the stoichiometry stability and non‐linear shift involved large biomass proportions of the same species, which indicates that the bulk stoichiometry was related to similar physiological behavior of phylogenetically diverse organisms according to the biogeochemical context. The C:N:P seston stability in P‐limited conditions—with loose coupling with productivity, nutrient supply ratios, and species dominance—and the sudden shift to Redfield proportions in P‐repleted conditions suggest a complex regulation of P scarcity in planktonic communities that goes beyond immediate acclimation growth responses and might include alternative physiological and biogeochemical states. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T04:50:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-86877046789549e9ac6a8dba529f2eaf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T04:50:31Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-86877046789549e9ac6a8dba529f2eaf2022-12-21T23:59:01ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252020-09-01119n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.3249Homeostasis and non‐linear shift in the stoichiometry of P‐limited planktonic communitiesPau Giménez‐Grau0Marisol Felip1Aitziber Zufiaurre2Sergi Pla‐Rabès3Lluís Camarero4Jordi Catalan5Department of Biology Aarhus University Aarhus C DenmarkCREAF Cerdanyola del Vallès Catalonia SpainCREAF Cerdanyola del Vallès Catalonia SpainCREAF Cerdanyola del Vallès Catalonia SpainCentre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB) CSIC Blanes Catalonia SpainCREAF Cerdanyola del Vallès Catalonia SpainAbstract Planktonic communities are naturally subjected to episodic nutrient enrichments that may stress or redress the imbalances in limiting nutrients. Human‐enhanced atmospheric nitrogen deposition has caused profound N:P imbalance in many remote oligotrophic lakes in which phosphorus has largely become limiting. These lakes offer an opportunity to investigate the relationship between the changes in plankton stoichiometry, productivity, and community structure occurring during nutrient fluctuations in P‐limited conditions. We performed P (PO43‐) and N (NH4+ or NO3‐) pulse additions to the summer epilimnetic community of an ultraoligotrophic lake using self‐filling ~100‐L enclosures and analyzed the response to varying P availability, N:P imbalance, and N source. Seston C:N:P proportions remained fairly unchanged to P additions that were within the range of values seasonally found in the lake. However, the seston N:P ratio abruptly shifted and approached Redfield’s proportions at P additions typical of mesotrophic conditions that provided non‐limiting conditions. N surplus did not affect seston C:N:P proportions. The patterns of seston N:P stability and shift were similar for both N sources. In contrast, productivity was highly sensitive to low and medium P additions and decelerated at high P additions. Phytoplankton biomass dominated particulate organic matter. The autotrophic community differentiated almost linearly across the P gradient. Chrysophytes' dominance decreased, and diatoms and cryptophytes relative abundance increased. Nonetheless, the stoichiometry stability and non‐linear shift involved large biomass proportions of the same species, which indicates that the bulk stoichiometry was related to similar physiological behavior of phylogenetically diverse organisms according to the biogeochemical context. The C:N:P seston stability in P‐limited conditions—with loose coupling with productivity, nutrient supply ratios, and species dominance—and the sudden shift to Redfield proportions in P‐repleted conditions suggest a complex regulation of P scarcity in planktonic communities that goes beyond immediate acclimation growth responses and might include alternative physiological and biogeochemical states.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3249ecological stoichiometryENEX experimentexperimental enclosuresmountain lakesnutrient enrichmentsoligotrophy |
| spellingShingle | Pau Giménez‐Grau Marisol Felip Aitziber Zufiaurre Sergi Pla‐Rabès Lluís Camarero Jordi Catalan Homeostasis and non‐linear shift in the stoichiometry of P‐limited planktonic communities Ecosphere ecological stoichiometry ENEX experiment experimental enclosures mountain lakes nutrient enrichments oligotrophy |
| title | Homeostasis and non‐linear shift in the stoichiometry of P‐limited planktonic communities |
| title_full | Homeostasis and non‐linear shift in the stoichiometry of P‐limited planktonic communities |
| title_fullStr | Homeostasis and non‐linear shift in the stoichiometry of P‐limited planktonic communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Homeostasis and non‐linear shift in the stoichiometry of P‐limited planktonic communities |
| title_short | Homeostasis and non‐linear shift in the stoichiometry of P‐limited planktonic communities |
| title_sort | homeostasis and non linear shift in the stoichiometry of p limited planktonic communities |
| topic | ecological stoichiometry ENEX experiment experimental enclosures mountain lakes nutrient enrichments oligotrophy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3249 |
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