Impact of genomic diversity in river ecosystems.
We propose that genomic diversity in aquatic macrophytes of rivers, driven by the underlying genomic processes of interspecific hybridization and polyploidy (whole-genome duplication), play a significant role in ecosystem functioning. These genomic processes generate individuals which might differ in their demands for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). This is significant because (i) N and/or P are frequently limiting nutrients in freshwater ecosystems, and (ii) nucleic acids are demanding in N and P. We suggest that N and P availability will provide a selection pressure for genetic variants in macrophytes which will, in turn, influence the nutritional quality of plant biomass, and hence their consumption by herbivores and detritivores as well as the energy flux of their biomass through the food web.
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK.
Andrew R
AR
Leitch
Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3DS, UK.
Ilia J
IJ
Leitch
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK.
Mark
M
Trimmer
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK.
Maité S
MS
Guignard
Imperial College London, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, UK. Electronic address: guy.woodward@imperial.ac.uk.
Guy
G
Woodward
D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D017753:Ecosystem; D014644:Genetic Variation; D018745:Genome, Plant; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D011123:Polyploidy; D045483:Rivers; D057948:Viridiplantae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen
ecology; food webs; genome size; nutrient stoichiometry; selection