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The impact of surface-adsorbed phosphorus on phytoplankton Redfield stoichiometry

Author

Listed:
  • Sergio A. Sañudo-Wilhelmy

    (Stony Brook University)

  • Antonio Tovar-Sanchez

    (Stony Brook University
    IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados, Esporles 07190)

  • Fei-Xue Fu

    (University of Delaware)

  • Douglas G. Capone

    (University of Southern California)

  • Edward J. Carpenter

    (San Francisco State University)

  • David A. Hutchins

    (University of Delaware)

Abstract

The Redfield ratio of 106 carbon:16 nitrogen:1 phosphorus in marine phytoplankton1 is one of the foundations of ocean biogeochemistry, with applications in algal physiology2, palaeoclimatology3 and global climate change4. However, this ratio varies substantially in response to changes in algal nutrient status5 and taxonomic affiliation6,7. Here we report that Redfield ratios are also strongly affected by partitioning into surface-adsorbed and intracellular phosphorus pools. The C:N:surface-adsorbed P (80–105 C:15–18 N:1 P) and total (71–80 C:13–14 N:1 P) ratios in natural populations and cultures of Trichodesmium were close to Redfield values and not significantly different from each other. In contrast, intracellular ratios consistently exceeded the Redfield ratio (316–434 C:59–83 N:1 intracellular P). These high intracellular ratios were associated with reduced N2 fixation rates, suggestive of phosphorus deficiency. Other algal species also have substantial surface-adsorbed phosphorus pools, suggesting that our Trichodesmium results are generally applicable to all phytoplankton. Measurements of the distinct phytoplankton phosphorus pools may be required to assess nutrient limitation accurately from elemental composition. Deviations from Redfield stoichiometry may be attributable to surface adsorption of phosphorus rather than to biological processes, and this scavenging could affect the interpretation of marine nutrient inventories and ecosystem models.

Suggested Citation

  • Sergio A. Sañudo-Wilhelmy & Antonio Tovar-Sanchez & Fei-Xue Fu & Douglas G. Capone & Edward J. Carpenter & David A. Hutchins, 2004. "The impact of surface-adsorbed phosphorus on phytoplankton Redfield stoichiometry," Nature, Nature, vol. 432(7019), pages 897-901, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:432:y:2004:i:7019:d:10.1038_nature03125
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03125
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    Cited by:

    1. Shen, Anglu & Gao, Shufei & Heggerud, Christopher M. & Wang, Hao & Ma, Zengling & Yuan, Sanling, 2023. "Fluctuation of growth and photosynthetic characteristics in Prorocentrum shikokuense under phosphorus limitation: Evidence from field and laboratory," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 479(C).
    2. Gao, Shufei & Shen, Anglu & Jiang, Jie & Wang, Hao & Yuan, Sanling, 2022. "Kinetics of phosphate uptake in the dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi in response to phosphate stress and temperature," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 468(C).
    3. Alexandra Moura & Michael A Savageau & Rui Alves, 2013. "Relative Amino Acid Composition Signatures of Organisms and Environments," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(10), pages 1-9, October.
    4. Li, Yu & Waite, Anya M. & Gal, Gideon & Hipsey, Matthew R., 2013. "An analysis of the relationship between phytoplankton internal stoichiometry and water column N:P ratios in a dynamic lake environment," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 196-213.
    5. Arhonditsis, George B. & Stow, Craig A. & Paerl, Hans W. & Valdes-Weaver, Lexia M. & Steinberg, Laura J. & Reckhow, Kenneth H., 2007. "Delineation of the role of nutrient dynamics and hydrologic forcing on phytoplankton patterns along a freshwater–marine continuum," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 208(2), pages 230-246.

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