The C:N:P stoichiometry of organisms and ecosystems in a changing world: A review and perspectives

Human-induced nitrogen–phosphorus imbalances alter natural and managed ecosystems across the globe

“…In the open ocean, the increases in the N:P ratios of the atmospheric inputs (Fig. 3) enlarge the extent of phosphorus-limited areas 13 .…”

“…In coastal waters, the amounts of anthropogenic nutrients received from agricultural areas through rivers have increased in recent decades 13 , leading to observations of higher ARTICLE NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3934 N:P ratios in the waters off the coasts of China and South America, and in the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea 14,15 . However, decreases in the coastal water N:P ratios have also been reported, especially for estuaries in emerging economies characterized by growing agricultural inputs of phosphorus, such as Turkey 13 and Mexico 13 . In the open ocean, the increases in the N:P ratios of the atmospheric inputs (Fig.…”

Phosphorus nutrition of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is decreasing in Europe

“…Photosynthesis is dependent on sufficient foliar P levels and may be impaired due to P deficiency (Reich et al 2009) especially under elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentrations (Conroy et al 1986). Elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentrations as well as increased temperature seem to increase the C/P ratio of plants, while the effect of drought is still unclear (Sardans et al 2011). In addition, the growing season was found to be extended in Europe (Menzel and Fabian 1999) leading to higher photosynthetic activity (Tucker et al 2001).…”

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus supply on growth and physiological traits of two Larix species

“…However, limited information is available regarding the regulation of eco-physiological processes of many trees, for instance larches, exposed to P fertilization. Many studies have showed that N and P fertilization could shift some ecosystems from N to P limitation or to N and P co-limitation (Braun et al, 2010;Elser et al, 2010;Sardans et al, 2012). Menge and Field (2007) found that N fertilization led to P limitation in six out of eleven previously N-limited ecosystems, mainly because N input could accelerate P cycling rates across a wide variety of terrestrial ecosystems (Marklein and Houlton, 2012).…”