Ecological Stoichiometry, Primary Producer-Decomposer Interactions, and Ecosystem Persistence

Daufresne, Tanguy; Loreau, Michel

doi:10.2307/2679835

Cited by 52 publications

(83 citation statements)

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“…On the other hand, the epifluorescence microscopy observations revealed that phytoplankton in La Caldera was composed by free algal cells without attached bacteria, therefore avoiding an overestimation of TdR measurement on the algal fraction. Our approach also allowed the evaluation of flagellate bacterivory under in situ conditions, as recommended by Sherr and Sherr (2002), and contributes to the demanded experimental studies on algaebacteria interactions in different ecosystems (Daufresne and Loreau 2001).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…These abilities may constitute mechanisms that can modulate the competition with bacteria for mineral nutrients, suggesting a further complexity of the algae-bacteria relationship, with algae exerting the main control. In this way, a mutualistic interaction is established, comparable to other widespread terrestrial trophic mutualisms in nature (e.g., Attine ants and fungi), ultimately allowing the coexistence of both communities and ecosystem persistence (Daufresne and Loreau 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neither with nor without you: A complex algal control on bacterioplankton in a high mountain lake

Medina‐Sánchez

Villar‐Argaiz

Carrillo

2004

Limnology & Oceanography

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The literature proposes that the microbial loop is a key link for ecosystem functioning, particularly in oligotrophic conditions. From original and published data for a period spanning 1986 to 1999, we examined the food web structure of a clear-water, oligotrophic, high mountain lake. The heterotrophic microbial food web was weakly developed in a grazing food chain dominated by copepods and phytoplankton, the latter mainly composed of mixotrophic flagellates. Bacteria constituted a minor component of the plankton community in terms of abundance, biomass, and production, in contrast to the situation usually reported in oligotrophic conditions. Abiotic and biotic factors that regulate bacterioplankton biomass and production were assessed, including the bacterivory capability of mixotrophic flagellates experimentally quantified by using 3 H-thymidine as a tracer. Algae were the main factor controlling bacterioplankton. Their regulatory effect has a dual nature: (1) a resource-based control, through the dependence of the bacteria on photosynthetic carbon released by algae, i.e., a commensalistic interaction (''without you I cannot live'') and (2) a predatory control, with bacteria as prey for mixotrophs (''with you I die''). Mixotrophic metabolism can constitute an adaptive strategy for algae to overcome ultraviolet (UV) stress, by using bacteria as a source of carbon and mineral nutrients in conditions of inhibited photosynthesis and mineral nutrient uptake. Mixotrophy acts as a bypass of carbon flux toward the grazing food chain, explaining the scarce development of the heterotrophic microbes in this and other high mountain lakes.The role of bacteria in ecosystem functioning, as a link between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and higher trophic levels, appears to strengthen in more oligotrophic conditions, where bacterial : algal biomass and bacterial : primary production ratios tend to be higher than in eutrophic ecosystems (Gasol et al. 1997;Biddanda et al. 2001;Cotner and Biddanda 2002).Within an oligotrophic gradient, high mountain lakes over the tree line are exposed to low temperatures, high ultraviolet irradiation, long ice and snow cover period, and fluctuating hydrology. These abiotic factors may influence the development and dynamics of bacterioplankton (Straskrabová et al. 1999). The generally low concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in clear-water high mountain lakes (commonly Ͻ1 mg L Ϫ1 , see Laurion et al. 2000), and its potentially low quality or bioavailability due to photoreactivity and photoalteration processes (Benner and Biddanda 1998;Reche et al. 2001), may make carbon the main limiting nutrient to bacterial growth. Moreover, the interaction of low mineral nutrient and/or DOC concentrations with 1 Corresponding author (jmmedina@ugr.es). AcknowledgmentsWe sincerely acknowledge L. Cruz-Pizarro, R. Morales-Baquero, P. Sánchez-Castillo, and I. Reche for their contribution to the database. We thank M. J. Villalba and J. A. Delgado for assistance in the field and Richard Davies for...

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neither with nor without you: A complex algal control on bacterioplankton in a high mountain lake

Medina‐Sánchez

Villar‐Argaiz

Carrillo

2004

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…Other possible indicators could be plant toxicity or resistance to grazing, and all these indicators are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Daufresne and Loreau (2001b) provided the first application of stoichiometric principles for modeling of autotroph-decomposer communities. Grover (2002) investigated how stoichiometric constraints, coupled with grazing pressure, affect coexistence of two prey species on two resources.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Competition and stoichiometry: coexistence of two predators on one prey

Loladze

Kuang

Elser

et al. 2004

Theoretical Population Biology

120

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“…The ecological consequences of the microbial decomposers making up shortages of essential elements in their resource by tapping into the stocks of inorganic nutrients were worked out later on (Bratbak & Thingstad 1985;Harte & Kinzig 1993;Daufresne & Loreau 2001a;Cherif & Loreau 2007). Nutrient-limited primary producers tend to generate carbon-rich organic matter, promoting microbial immobilization.…”

Section: The Long Road To Ecological Stoichiometrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological Stoichiometry: The Elements at the Heart of Biological Interactions

Cherif¹

2012

Stoichiometry and Research - The Importance of Quantity in Biomedicine

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Ecological Stoichiometry, Primary Producer-Decomposer Interactions, and Ecosystem Persistence

Cited by 52 publications

References 0 publications

Neither with nor without you: A complex algal control on bacterioplankton in a high mountain lake

Neither with nor without you: A complex algal control on bacterioplankton in a high mountain lake

Competition and stoichiometry: coexistence of two predators on one prey

Biological Stoichiometry: The Elements at the Heart of Biological Interactions

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