title: Allometry and stoichiometry of unicellular, colonial and multicellular phytoplankton.
abstract: Phytoplankton life forms, including unicells, colonies, pseudocolonies, and multicellular organisms, span a huge size range. The smallest unicells are less than 1 microm3 (e.g. cyanobacteria), while large unicellular diatoms may attain 10(9) microm3, being visible to the naked eye. Phytoplankton includes chemo-organotrophic unicells, colonies and multicellular organisms that depend on symbionts or kleptoplastids for their capacity to photosynthesize. Analyses of physical (transport within cells, diffusion boundary layers, package effect, turgor, and vertical movements) and biotic (grazing, viruses and other parasitoids) factors indicate potential ecological constraints and opportunities that differ among the life forms. There are also variations among life forms in elemental stoichiometry and in allometric relations between biovolume and specific growth. While many of these factors probably have ecological and evolutionary significance, work is needed to establish those that are most important, warranting explicit description in models. Other factors setting limitations on growth rate (selecting slow-growing species) await elucidation.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, PO Box 18, Monash University, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia;National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 735 State St, Suite 300, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA;Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT 48-208, 18 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;Environmental Science Program, Mount Allison University, Avard-Dixon, 144 Main Street, Sackville, Canada E4L 1A7;Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Wallace Building, University of Swansea, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 5007 Avenue U, TX 77551, USA;Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, PO Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand;Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland, Qld 4163, Australia;University of Queensland, School of Physical Sciences, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia;Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at SCRI, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beardall
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, PO Box 18, Monash University, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia;National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 735 State St, Suite 300, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA;Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT 48-208, 18 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;Environmental Science Program, Mount Allison University, Avard-Dixon, 144 Main Street, Sackville, Canada E4L 1A7;Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Wallace Building, University of Swansea, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 5007 Avenue U, TX 77551, USA;Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, PO Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand;Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland, Qld 4163, Australia;University of Queensland, School of Physical Sciences, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia;Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at SCRI, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Drew
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, PO Box 18, Monash University, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia;National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 735 State St, Suite 300, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA;Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT 48-208, 18 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;Environmental Science Program, Mount Allison University, Avard-Dixon, 144 Main Street, Sackville, Canada E4L 1A7;Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Wallace Building, University of Swansea, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 5007 Avenue U, TX 77551, USA;Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, PO Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand;Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland, Qld 4163, Australia;University of Queensland, School of Physical Sciences, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia;Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at SCRI, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bragg
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, PO Box 18, Monash University, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia;National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 735 State St, Suite 300, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA;Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT 48-208, 18 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;Environmental Science Program, Mount Allison University, Avard-Dixon, 144 Main Street, Sackville, Canada E4L 1A7;Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Wallace Building, University of Swansea, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 5007 Avenue U, TX 77551, USA;Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, PO Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand;Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland, Qld 4163, Australia;University of Queensland, School of Physical Sciences, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia;Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at SCRI, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Zoe V
authors.initials: ZV
authors.lastname: Finkel
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, PO Box 18, Monash University, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia;National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 735 State St, Suite 300, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA;Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT 48-208, 18 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;Environmental Science Program, Mount Allison University, Avard-Dixon, 144 Main Street, Sackville, Canada E4L 1A7;Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Wallace Building, University of Swansea, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 5007 Avenue U, TX 77551, USA;Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, PO Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand;Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland, Qld 4163, Australia;University of Queensland, School of Physical Sciences, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia;Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at SCRI, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, PO Box 18, Monash University, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia;National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 735 State St, Suite 300, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA;Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT 48-208, 18 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;Environmental Science Program, Mount Allison University, Avard-Dixon, 144 Main Street, Sackville, Canada E4L 1A7;Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Wallace Building, University of Swansea, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 5007 Avenue U, TX 77551, USA;Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, PO Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand;Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland, Qld 4163, Australia;University of Queensland, School of Physical Sciences, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia;Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at SCRI, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quigg
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, PO Box 18, Monash University, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia;National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 735 State St, Suite 300, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA;Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT 48-208, 18 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;Environmental Science Program, Mount Allison University, Avard-Dixon, 144 Main Street, Sackville, Canada E4L 1A7;Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Wallace Building, University of Swansea, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 5007 Avenue U, TX 77551, USA;Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, PO Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand;Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland, Qld 4163, Australia;University of Queensland, School of Physical Sciences, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia;Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at SCRI, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: T Alwyn V
authors.initials: TAV
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, PO Box 18, Monash University, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia;National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 735 State St, Suite 300, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA;Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT 48-208, 18 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;Environmental Science Program, Mount Allison University, Avard-Dixon, 144 Main Street, Sackville, Canada E4L 1A7;Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Wallace Building, University of Swansea, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 5007 Avenue U, TX 77551, USA;Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, PO Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand;Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland, Qld 4163, Australia;University of Queensland, School of Physical Sciences, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia;Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at SCRI, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, PO Box 18, Monash University, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia;National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 735 State St, Suite 300, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA;Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT 48-208, 18 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;Environmental Science Program, Mount Allison University, Avard-Dixon, 144 Main Street, Sackville, Canada E4L 1A7;Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Wallace Building, University of Swansea, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 5007 Avenue U, TX 77551, USA;Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, PO Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand;Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland, Qld 4163, Australia;University of Queensland, School of Physical Sciences, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia;Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at SCRI, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Raven
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D018533:Biomass; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004058:Diffusion; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D013559:Symbiosis