Global analysis of nitrogen and phosphorus limitation of primary producers in freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
The cycles of the key nutrient elements nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) have been massively altered by anthropogenic activities. Thus, it is essential to understand how photosynthetic production across diverse ecosystems is, or is not, limited by N and P. Via a large-scale meta-analysis of experimental enrichments, we show that P limitation is equally strong across these major habitats and that N and P limitation are equivalent within both terrestrial and freshwater systems. Furthermore, simultaneous N and P enrichment produces strongly positive synergistic responses in all three environments. Thus, contrary to some prevailing paradigms, freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems are surprisingly similar in terms of N and P limitation.
Elser
James J
JJ
School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. j.elser@asu.edu
Bracken
Matthew E S
ME
Cleland
Elsa E
EE
Gruner
Daniel S
DS
Harpole
W Stanley
WS
Hillebrand
Helmut
H
Ngai
Jacqueline T
JT
Seabloom
Eric W
EW
Shurin
Jonathan B
JB
Smith
Jennifer E
JE
D018533:Biomass; D017753:Ecosystem; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000378:metabolism; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010788:Photosynthesis; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000378:metabolism; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*
D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen