Plasticity in algal stoichiometry: Experimental evidence of a temperature‐induced shift in optimal supply N:P ratio. (3rd March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thrane, Jan‐Erik; Hessen, Dag O.; Andersen, Tom
• Is Part Of: Limnology and oceanography. Volume 62:Number 4(2017)
• Page Start: 1346
• Page End: 1354
• Publication Date: 2017-03-03
• Subjects: Limnology -- Periodicals; Oceanography -- Periodicals; Océanographie; Limnologie; Limnology; Oceanography; Computer network resources; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); Periodicals; 551.4805
• DOI: 10.1002/lno.10500
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0024-3590

Abstract

Abstract: There is growing empirical and theoretical evidence for a positive relationship between the nitrogen (N)‐to‐phosphorus (P) ratio of phytoplankton and temperature. However, few have tested how the optimal supply N:P ratio; the dissolved N:P ratio at which nutrient limitation switches from one element to the other, responds to temperature. In this study, we conducted a factorial experiment crossing 12 temperature levels with 8 supply N:P ratios to determine the effect of temperature acclimation on the optimal supply N:P ratio of the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii . We found that the optimal supply N:P increased in a sigmoidal manner from 26.5 to 36.5 (atomic ratio) over a temperature gradient spanning from ∼10 to 18°C, with the steepest change around 15°C. This result is in accordance with trends observed for cellular and seston N:P ratios, and indicates that phytoplankton populations may be shifted toward N‐limitation in a scenario of warmer waters.