Nutrient availability and phytoplankton nutrient limitation across a gradient of atmospheric nitrogen deposition

Elser, James J.; Kyle, Marcia; Steger, Laura; Nydick, Koren R.

doi:10.1890/08-1742.1

Cited by 163 publications

(119 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…However, P limitation alone was not reported at the highest N deposition site (AT7). A shift from N to P limitation has previously been reported at rates[6 kg ha -1 year -1 (Bergström et al 2005;Elser et al 2009b), far in excess of atmospheric N deposition currently estimated for Greenland (\1 kg N ha…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…P) exerts the greatest control over phototrophic growth and how this might change in response to variation in nutrient supply (e.g. Levine and Whalen 2001;Bergström et al 2005;Elser et al 2009aElser et al , 2009bSymons et al 2012). A common feature of many of these studies is a focus on nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growing in the open water column (Levine and Whalen 2001;Jansson 2006, 2008;Elser et al 2009a, b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nutrient limitation of periphyton growth in arctic lakes in south-west Greenland

2014

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Many arctic lakes are oligotrophic systems where phototrophic growth is controlled by nutrient supply. Recent anthropogenic nutrient loading is associated with biological and/or physico-chemical change in several lakes across the arctic. Shifts in nutrient limitation (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), or N ? P) and associated effects on the growth and composition of algal communities are commonly reported. The Kangerlussuaq region of south-west Greenland forms a major lake district which is considered to receive little direct anthropogenic disturbance. However, long-range transport of pollutant N is now reaching Greenland, and it was hypothesised that a precipitation gradient from the inland ice sheet margin to the coast might also deliver increased N deposition. In situ nutrient bioassays were deployed in three lakes across the region: ice sheet margin, inland (close to Kangerlussuaq) and the coast (near Sisimiut), to determine nutrient limitation of lakes and investigate any effects of nutrients on periphyton growth and community composition. Nutrient limitation differed amongst lakes: N limitation (ice sheet margin), N and P limitation (inland) and N ? P co-limitation (coast). Factors including variation in N supply, ice phenology, seasonal algal succession, community structure and physical limnology are explored as mechanisms to explain differences amongst lakes. Nutrient limitation of arctic lakes and associated ecological impacts are highly variable, even across small geographic areas. In this highly sensitive region, future environmental change scenarios carry a strong risk of significantly altering nutrient limitation; in turn, potentially severely impacting lake structure and function.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient limitation of periphyton growth in arctic lakes in south-west Greenland

2014

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“…Burns 2003). This increase of DIN in wetfall at high elevation in the Colorado Rocky Mountains has resulted in this area becoming N-saturated (Williams et al 1996a), leading to higher concentrations of nitrate in surface waters (Baron et al 1994;Williams and Tonnessen 2000), and shifted phytoplankton nutrient limitation from predominant nitrogen (N) and joint N and phosphorus (P) limitation to predominant P limitation (Elser et al 2009). An outstanding question remains: is increased nitrate in surface waters of highelevation catchments in the Colorado Rockies from nitrate in wetfall directly transported to surface waters, or is it a result of net nitrification induced by DIN in wetfall?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thawing glacial and permafrost features contribute to nitrogen export from Green Lakes Valley, Colorado Front Range, USA

et al. 2013

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Alpine ecosystems are particularly susceptible to disturbance due to their short growing seasons, sparse vegetation and thin soils. Increased nitrogen deposition in wetfall and changes in climate currently affect Green Lakes Valley within the Colorado Front Range. Research conducted within the alpine links chronic nitrogen inputs to a suite of ecological impacts, resulting in increased nitrate export. The atmospheric nitrogen flux decreased by 0.56 kg ha -1 year -1 between 2000 and 2009, due to decreased precipitation; however alpine nitrate yields increased by 40 % relative to the previous decade (1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999). Long term trends indicate that weathering products such as sulfate, calcium, and silica have also increased over the same period. The geochemical composition of thawing permafrost, as indicated by rock glacial and blockfield meltwater, suggests it is the source of these weathering products. Furthermore, mass balance models indicate the high ammonium loads within glacial meltwater are rapidly nitrified, contributing *0.5-1.4 kg N ha -1 to the growing season nitrate flux from the alpine watershed. The sustained export of these solutes during dry, summer months is likely facilitated by thawing cryosphere providing hydraulic connectivity late into the growing season. This mechanism is further supported by the lack of upward weathering or nitrogen solute trends in a neighboring catchment which lacks permafrost and glacial features. These findings suggest that reductions of atmospheric nitrogen deposition alone may not improve water quality, as cryospheric thaw exposes soils to biological and geochemical processes that may affect alpine nitrate concentrations as much as atmospheric deposition trends.

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“…Recent research has shown that phytoplankton production is naturally Nlimited in lakes subject to low rates of N deposition (Bergströ m et al 2008, Elser et al 2009a. Furthermore, enhanced anthropogenic N deposition has resulted in elevated TN:TP ratios in many lakes in the northern hemisphere, and a corresponding shift from N-to P-limitation (Bergströ m et al 2005, Elser et al 2009a), which in turn has increased phytoplankton biomass (Bergströ m and Jansson 2006) and elevated sestonic N:P ratios (Elser et al 2009b). It has also been shown that phytoplankton P-limitation induced by high N deposition impairs the growth of consumers with high P demand due to food quality constraints and low P content in phytoplankton (Elser et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

N‐limited consumer growth and low nutrient regeneration N:P ratios in lakes with low N deposition

Bergström

Karlsson

et al. 2015

Ecosphere

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Abstract. Nutrient limitation of primary producers and their consumers can have a large influence on ecosystem productivity. The nature and strength of nutrient limitation is driven both by external factors (e.g., nutrient loading) and internal processes (e.g., consumer-driven nutrient regeneration). Here we present results from a field study in 10 low productive headwater lakes in northern subarctic Sweden, where nitrogen (N) deposition is low and phytoplankton is primarily N-limited. We assessed the carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus (C:N:P) stoichiometry of seston and zooplankton and estimated the N:P ratio of consumer-driven nutrient regeneration. Based on stoichiometric models, the estimated elemental imbalances between seston and zooplankton suggest that zooplankton were mainly N-limited and regenerated nutrients with low N:P ratios (median 11.9, atomic ratio). The predicted N:P regeneration ratios were consistent with results from phytoplankton nutrient limitation bioassays in mid-summer, i.e., the N:P regeneration was predicted to be low when phytoplankton were N-limited, and high when phytoplankton were P-limited. During other seasons, when water discharge was high, nutrient loading from the surrounding catchments apparently had the strongest effect on phytoplankton nutrient limitation. We propose that lakes with higher N:P ratios than the open ocean is an effect of N deposition, that Nlimitation of consumers and phytoplankton is further enhanced by low nutrient regeneration N:P ratios, and that in the absence of N deposition, lake and ocean N:P stoichiometry are similar.

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Nutrient availability and phytoplankton nutrient limitation across a gradient of atmospheric nitrogen deposition

Cited by 163 publications

References 44 publications

Nutrient limitation of periphyton growth in arctic lakes in south-west Greenland

Nutrient limitation of periphyton growth in arctic lakes in south-west Greenland

Thawing glacial and permafrost features contribute to nitrogen export from Green Lakes Valley, Colorado Front Range, USA

N‐limited consumer growth and low nutrient regeneration N:P ratios in lakes with low N deposition

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