Contrasting effects of rising CO2 on primary production and ecological stoichiometry at different nutrient levels

TY - JOUR

T1 - Contrasting effects of rising CO2 on primary production and ecological stoichiometry at different nutrient levels

AU - Verspagen, J.M.H.

AU - Van de Waal, D.B.

AU - Finke, J.F

AU - Visser, P.M.

AU - Huisman, J.

N1 - Reporting year: 2014 Metis note: 5616; AqE Embargo Postprint 36 mnd

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Although rising CO2 concentrations are thought to promote the growth and alter the carbon : nutrient stoichiometry of primary producers, several studies have reported conflicting results. To reconcile these contrasting results, we tested the following hypotheses: rising CO2 levels (1) will increase phytoplankton biomass more at high nutrient loads than at low nutrient loads, but (2) will increase their carbon : nutrient stoichiometry more at low than at high nutrient loads. We formulated a mathematical model to predict dynamic changes in phytoplankton population density, elemental stoichiometry and inorganic carbon chemistry in response to rising CO2. The model was tested in chemostat experiments with the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. The model predictions and experimental results confirmed the hypotheses. Our findings provide a novel theoretical framework to understand and predict effects of rising CO2 concentrations on primary producers and their nutritional quality as food for herbivores under different nutrient conditions

AB - Although rising CO2 concentrations are thought to promote the growth and alter the carbon : nutrient stoichiometry of primary producers, several studies have reported conflicting results. To reconcile these contrasting results, we tested the following hypotheses: rising CO2 levels (1) will increase phytoplankton biomass more at high nutrient loads than at low nutrient loads, but (2) will increase their carbon : nutrient stoichiometry more at low than at high nutrient loads. We formulated a mathematical model to predict dynamic changes in phytoplankton population density, elemental stoichiometry and inorganic carbon chemistry in response to rising CO2. The model was tested in chemostat experiments with the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. The model predictions and experimental results confirmed the hypotheses. Our findings provide a novel theoretical framework to understand and predict effects of rising CO2 concentrations on primary producers and their nutritional quality as food for herbivores under different nutrient conditions

KW - national

U2 - 10.1111/ele.12298

DO - 10.1111/ele.12298

M3 - Article

SN - 1461-023X

VL - 17

SP - 951

EP - 960

JO - Ecology Letters

JF - Ecology Letters

IS - 8

ER -