1
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Vogels JJ, Van de Waal DB, WallisDeVries MF, Van den Burg AB, Nijssen M, Bobbink R, Berg MP, Olde Venterink H, Siepel H. Towards a mechanistic understanding of the impacts of nitrogen deposition on producer-consumer interactions. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1712-1731. [PMID: 37265074 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) deposition has increased substantially since the second half of the 20th century due to human activities. This increase of reactive N into the biosphere has major implications for ecosystem functioning, including primary production, soil and water chemistry and producer community structure and diversity. Increased N deposition is also linked to the decline of insects observed over recent decades. However, we currently lack a mechanistic understanding of the effects of high N deposition on individual fitness, species richness and community structure of both invertebrate and vertebrate consumers. Here, we review the effects of N deposition on producer-consumer interactions, focusing on five existing ecological frameworks: C:N:P ecological stoichiometry, trace element ecological stoichiometry, nutritional geometry, essential micronutrients and allelochemicals. We link reported N deposition-mediated changes in producer quality to life-history strategies and traits of consumers, to gain a mechanistic understanding of the direction of response in consumers. We conclude that high N deposition influences producer quality via eutrophication and acidification pathways. This makes oligotrophic poorly buffered ecosystems most vulnerable to significant changes in producer quality. Changes in producer quality between the reviewed frameworks are often interlinked, complicating predictions of the effects of high N deposition on producer quality. The degree and direction of fitness responses of consumers to changes in producer quality varies among species but can be explained by differences in life-history traits and strategies, particularly those affecting species nutrient intake regulation, mobility, relative growth rate, host-plant specialisation, ontogeny and physiology. To increase our understanding of the effects of N deposition on these complex mechanisms, the inclusion of life-history traits of consumer species in future study designs is pivotal. Based on the reviewed literature, we formulate five hypotheses on the mechanisms underlying the effects of high N deposition on consumers, by linking effects of nutritional ecological frameworks to life-history strategies. Importantly, we expect that N-deposition-mediated changes in producer quality will result in a net decrease in consumer community as well as functional diversity. Moreover, we anticipate an increased risk of outbreak events of a small subset of generalist species, with concomitant declines in a multitude of specialist species. Overall, linking ecological frameworks with consumer life-history strategies provides a mechanistic understanding of the impacts of high N deposition on producer-consumer interactions, which can inform management towards more effective mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost J Vogels
- Bargerveen Foundation, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dedmer B Van de Waal
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Sciencepark 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel F WallisDeVries
- De Vlinderstichting / Dutch Butterfly Conservation, P.O. Box 6700 AM, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Marijn Nijssen
- Bargerveen Foundation, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roland Bobbink
- B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Matty P Berg
- A-LIFE, Section Ecology & Evolution, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- GELIFES, Community and Conservation Ecology Group, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Harry Olde Venterink
- Department of Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Henk Siepel
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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2
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Nessel MP, Konnovitch T, Romero GQ, González AL. Nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment cause declines in invertebrate populations: a global meta-analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:2617-2637. [PMID: 34173704 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Human-driven changes in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inputs are modifying biogeochemical cycles and the trophic state of many habitats worldwide. These alterations are predicted to continue to increase, with the potential for a wide range of impacts on invertebrates, key players in ecosystem-level processes. Here, we present a meta-analysis of 1679 cases from 207 studies reporting the effects of N, P, and combined N + P enrichment on the abundance, biomass, and richness of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. Nitrogen and phosphorus additions decreased invertebrate abundance in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, with stronger impacts under combined N + P additions. Likewise, N and N + P additions had stronger negative impacts on the abundance of tropical than temperate invertebrates. Overall, the effects of nutrient enrichment did not differ significantly among major invertebrate taxonomic groups, suggesting that changes in biogeochemical cycles are a pervasive threat to invertebrate populations across ecosystems. The effects of N and P additions differed significantly among invertebrate trophic groups but N + P addition had a consistent negative effect on invertebrates. Nutrient additions had weaker or inconclusive impacts on invertebrate biomass and richness, possibly due to the low number of case studies for these community responses. Our findings suggest that N and P enrichment affect invertebrate community structure mainly by decreasing invertebrate abundance, and these effects are dependent on the habitat and trophic identity of the invertebrates. These results highlight the important effects of human-driven nutrient enrichment on ecological systems and suggest a potential driver for the global invertebrate decline documented in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Nessel
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, 201 S. Broadway, Camden, NJ, 08103, U.S.A
| | - Theresa Konnovitch
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, 201 S. Broadway, Camden, NJ, 08103, U.S.A.,Biology Department, La Salle University, 1900 W Olney Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19141, U.S.A
| | - Gustavo Q Romero
- Department of Animal Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), CP 6109, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Angélica L González
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, 201 S. Broadway, Camden, NJ, 08103, U.S.A.,Biology Department, Rutgers University, Science Building, 315 Penn Street, Camden, NJ, 08102, U.S.A
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3
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Du B, Yuan J, Ji H, Yin S, Kang H, Liu C. Body Size Plasticity of Weevil Larvae (Curculio davidi) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Its Stoichiometric Relationship With Different Hosts. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2021; 21:2. [PMID: 33394047 PMCID: PMC7780276 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieaa139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Parasites obtain energy and nutrients from the host, and their body size is also usually limited by host size. However, the regulatory mechanisms that control the plasticity of parasite body sizes and the stoichiometric relationships with their hosts remain unclear. Here we investigated the concentrations of 14 elements (C, H, O, N, P, S, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al, Fe, Mn, and Zn) in the acorns of three oak species (Quercus spp.), in their endoparasitic weevil (Curculio davidi Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) larvae and in the larval feces, and the weight of weevil larvae within different hosts in a warm-temperate zone of China. Our results showed that the three acorn species exhibited significant differences in C, H, O, P, K, Mg, and Mn concentrations. However, in the weevil larvae, only P, Mn, and C:P ratio revealed significant differences. Weevil larvae preferentially absorbed and retained N, Zn, Na, and P, whereas Mn, K, Ca, and O were passively absorbed and transported. The weevil larvae weight was associated with acorn stoichiometry, and positively correlated with acorn size. Weevil larvae P decreased, but Mn and C:P increased with their weight, implying highly variable in somatic stoichiometry are coupled with the plasticity of body size. Interestingly, weevil larvae weight was negatively correlated with acorn infection rate, indicating small-size parasitic insects might have higher fitness level in parasite-host systems than larger-size ones. Our results suggest that variation in P, Mn, and C:P in parasites may play critical roles in shaping their body size and in improving their fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoming Du
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Minhang, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Urban Forest Ecosystem Research Station, State Forestry Administration, Minhang, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Yuan
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Minhang, Shanghai, China
| | - Huawei Ji
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Minhang, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Urban Forest Ecosystem Research Station, State Forestry Administration, Minhang, Shanghai, China
| | - Shan Yin
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Minhang, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Urban Forest Ecosystem Research Station, State Forestry Administration, Minhang, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South), Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongzhang Kang
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Minhang, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Urban Forest Ecosystem Research Station, State Forestry Administration, Minhang, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South), Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunjiang Liu
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Minhang, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Urban Forest Ecosystem Research Station, State Forestry Administration, Minhang, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South), Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, China
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4
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González AL, Céréghino R, Dézerald O, Farjalla VF, Leroy C, Richardson BA, Richardson MJ, Romero GQ, Srivastava DS. Ecological mechanisms and phylogeny shape invertebrate stoichiometry: A test using detritus‐based communities across Central and South America. Funct Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Angélica L. González
- Biology Department & Center for Computational and Integrative Biology Rutgers University Camden New JerseyUSA
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research CentreUniversity of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Régis Céréghino
- EcoLab, Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement (UMR 5245Université de Toulouse, CNRS Toulouse France
| | - Olivier Dézerald
- Biology Department & Center for Computational and Integrative Biology Rutgers University Camden New JerseyUSA
| | - Vinicius F. Farjalla
- Department of Ecology, Biology InstituteFederal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Ilha do Fundão Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Céline Leroy
- IRDUMR AMAP (botAnique et Modélisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des végétations) Montpellier France
- UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane (AgroParisTech, CIRAD, CNRS, INRA, Université de Guyane, Université des Antilles) Kourou France
| | - Barbara A. Richardson
- Edinburgh UK
- Luquillo LTER, Inst. for Tropical Ecosystem StudiesUniv. of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Puerto Rico
| | - Michael J. Richardson
- Edinburgh UK
- Luquillo LTER, Inst. for Tropical Ecosystem StudiesUniv. of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Puerto Rico
| | - Gustavo Q. Romero
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia (IB)Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) Campinas‐SP Brazil
| | - Diane S. Srivastava
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research CentreUniversity of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
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5
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González AL, Dézerald O, Marquet PA, Romero GQ, Srivastava DS. The Multidimensional Stoichiometric Niche. Front Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
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6
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Downs KN, Hayes NM, Rock AM, Vanni MJ, González MJ. Light and nutrient supply mediate intraspecific variation in the nutrient stoichiometry of juvenile fish. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kelsea N. Downs
- Department of Biology Miami University Oxford Ohio 45056 USA
| | - Nicole M. Hayes
- Department of Biology Miami University Oxford Ohio 45056 USA
- Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Miami University Oxford Ohio 45056 USA
| | - Amber M. Rock
- Department of Biology Miami University Oxford Ohio 45056 USA
- Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Miami University Oxford Ohio 45056 USA
| | - Michael J. Vanni
- Department of Biology Miami University Oxford Ohio 45056 USA
- Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Miami University Oxford Ohio 45056 USA
| | - María J. González
- Department of Biology Miami University Oxford Ohio 45056 USA
- Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Miami University Oxford Ohio 45056 USA
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7
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Tiegs SD, Berven KA, Carmack DJ, Capps KA. Stoichiometric implications of a biphasic life cycle. Oecologia 2015; 180:853-63. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-015-3504-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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8
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Rożen A, Sobczyk Ł, Weiner J. The effect of pre-analytical treatment on the results of stoichiometric measurements in invertebrates. APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY 2015; 50:393-403. [PMID: 26300558 PMCID: PMC4536268 DOI: 10.1007/s13355-015-0346-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Growing interest in the application of stoichiometric approaches to community ecology has resulted in an increasing number of studies examining invertebrate body composition. Our experiments demonstrate various sources of possible error related to the use of pre-analytical procedures. We examined the effects of different preservatives (ethanol and formaldehyde) used in pitfall traps, time of preservation (2 weeks or 3 days) and drying method (vacuum drying at 50 °C and freeze-drying) on the determination of body composition in invertebrates representing taxa often used in such studies: earthworms and five species of insects (adults or larvae). The contents of C, N, S, P, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Ca, Mg and K in each animal were measured. The use of solvents (ethanol or formaldehyde) in pitfall traps and for preservation significantly affects the body composition and stoichiometry of earthworms, even during short exposure times. Insects (both adults and larvae) were affected only during a 2-week exposure; 3 days of exposure did not significantly change their chemical composition. Vacuum-oven drying of animals at 50 °C does not affect their body composition relative to freeze-drying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rożen
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Łukasz Sobczyk
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - January Weiner
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
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9
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Sun X, Small GE, Zhou X, Wang D, Li H, Liu C. Variation in C:N:S stoichiometry and nutrient storage related to body size in a holometabolous insect (Curculio davidi) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) larva. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2015; 15:iev004. [PMID: 25843579 PMCID: PMC4535141 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iev004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2013] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Body size can be an important factor controlling consumer stoichiometry. In holometabolous insects, body size is typically associated with nutrient storage. Consumer stoichiometry is known to vary within species across a range of body sizes; however, the contribution of nutrient storage to this variation is not well understood. We used the fifth-instar larvae of the oak weevil (Coleoptera: Curculio davidi Fairmaire), which is characterized by a high capacity for nutrient storage, to investigate the effect of shifts in nutrient storage with body mass on variations in larva stoichiometry. Our results showed that weevil larvae with larger body mass had a lower carbon (C) content, reflecting decreases in the sequestration rate of C-rich lipids. Larger larvae had elevated concentrations of nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and protein. The similar patterns of variation in elemental composition and macromolecule storage with body weight indicate that the shift in nutrient storage is the main factor causing the variation in larval stoichiometry with body weight. This finding was further supported by the low variation in residual larval biomass C, N, and S concentrations after lipid extraction. These results help decipher the physiological mechanism of stoichiometric regulation in growing organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Sun
- School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Centre for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China College of Agro-grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang Rd., Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Gaston E Small
- Department of Biology, University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, MN 55105
| | - Xuan Zhou
- School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Centre for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Donger Wang
- College of Agro-grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang Rd., Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Hongwang Li
- School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Centre for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Chunjiang Liu
- School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Centre for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China Shanghai Urban Forest Ecosystem Research Station, State Forestry Administration, People's Republic of China, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China
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10
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Carnicer J, Sardans J, Stefanescu C, Ubach A, Bartrons M, Asensio D, Peñuelas J. Global biodiversity, stoichiometry and ecosystem function responses to human-induced C-N-P imbalances. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 172:82-91. [PMID: 25270104 PMCID: PMC6485510 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2014.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Global change analyses usually consider biodiversity as a global asset that needs to be preserved. Biodiversity is frequently analysed mainly as a response variable affected by diverse environmental drivers. However, recent studies highlight that gradients of biodiversity are associated with gradual changes in the distribution of key dominant functional groups characterized by distinctive traits and stoichiometry, which in turn often define the rates of ecosystem processes and nutrient cycling. Moreover, pervasive links have been reported between biodiversity, food web structure, ecosystem function and species stoichiometry. Here we review current global stoichiometric gradients and how future distributional shifts in key functional groups may in turn influence basic ecosystem functions (production, nutrient cycling, decomposition) and therefore could exert a feedback effect on stoichiometric gradients. The C-N-P stoichiometry of most primary producers (phytoplankton, algae, plants) has been linked to functional trait continua (i.e. to major axes of phenotypic variation observed in inter-specific analyses of multiple traits). In contrast, the C-N-P stoichiometry of higher-level consumers remains less precisely quantified in many taxonomic groups. We show that significant links are observed between trait continua across trophic levels. In spite of recent advances, the future reciprocal feedbacks between key functional groups, biodiversity and ecosystem functions remain largely uncertain. The reported evidence, however, highlights the key role of stoichiometric traits and suggests the need of a progressive shift towards an ecosystemic and stoichiometric perspective in global biodiversity analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jofre Carnicer
- Community and Conservation Ecology Group, Centre for Life Sciences, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.; CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain; Department of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia 08028, Spain..
| | - Jordi Sardans
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain.; CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain
| | - Constantí Stefanescu
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain.; CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain; Museu de Ciències Naturals de Granollers, Granollers, Catalonia 08402, Spain
| | - Andreu Ubach
- Department of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia 08028, Spain
| | - Mireia Bartrons
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain.; CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain
| | - Dolores Asensio
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain.; CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain.; CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain
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11
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El-Sabaawi RW, Travis J, Zandonà E, McIntyre PB, Reznick DN, Flecker A. Intraspecific variability modulates interspecific variability in animal organismal stoichiometry. Ecol Evol 2014; 4:1505-15. [PMID: 24967071 PMCID: PMC4063454 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2013] [Revised: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 01/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Interspecific differences in organismal stoichiometry (OS) have been documented in a wide range of animal taxa and are of significant interest for understanding evolutionary patterns in OS. In contrast, intraspecific variation in animal OS has generally been treated as analytical noise or random variation, even though available data suggest intraspecific variability in OS is widespread. Here, we assess how intraspecific variation in OS affects inferences about interspecific OS differences using two co-occurring Neotropical fishes: Poecilia reticulata and Rivulus hartii. A wide range of OS has been observed within both species and has been attributed to environmental differences among stream systems. We assess the contributions of species identity, stream system, and the interactions between stream and species to variability in N:P, C:P, and C:N. Because predation pressure can impact the foraging ecology and life-history traits of fishes, we compare predictors of OS between communities that include predators, and communities where predators are absent. We find that species identity is the strongest predictor of N:P, while stream or the interaction of stream and species contribute more to the overall variation in C:P and C:N. Interspecific differences in N:P, C:P, and C:N are therefore not consistent among streams. The relative contribution of stream or species to OS qualitatively changes between the two predation communities, but these differences do not have appreciable effects in interspecific patterns. We conclude that although species identity is a significant predictor of OS, intraspecific OS is sometimes sufficient to overwhelm or obfuscate interspecific differences in OS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana W El-Sabaawi
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University Ithaca, NewYork, 14853
| | - Joseph Travis
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida, 32306
| | - Eugenia Zandonà
- Department of Biology, Drexel University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
| | - Peter B McIntyre
- Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin, 53706-1413
| | - David N Reznick
- Department of Biology, University of California Riverside, California, 92521
| | - Alexander Flecker
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University Ithaca, NewYork, 14853
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12
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Differing nutritional constraints of consumers across ecosystems. Oecologia 2014; 174:1367-76. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-013-2860-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2013] [Accepted: 12/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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13
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Kolb GS, Palmborg C, Hambäck PA. Ecological stoichiometry and density responses of plant-arthropod communities on cormorant nesting islands. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61772. [PMID: 23626727 PMCID: PMC3634001 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2012] [Accepted: 03/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Seabirds deposit large amounts of nutrient rich guano on their nesting islands. The increased nutrient availability strongly affects plants and consumers. Consumer response differs among taxonomic groups, but mechanisms causing these differences are poorly understood. Ecological stoichiometry might provide tools to understand these mechanisms. ES suggests that nutrient rich taxa are more likely to be nutrient limited than nutrient poorer taxa and are more favored under nutrient enrichment. Here, we quantified differences in the elemental composition of soil, plants, and consumers between islands with and without nesting cormorant colonies and tested predictions made based on ES by relating the elemental composition and the eventual mismatch between consumer and resource stoichiometry to observed density differences among the island categories. We found that nesting cormorants radically changed the soil nutrient content and thereby indirectly plant nutrient content and resource quality to herbivores. In contrast, consumers showed only small differences in their elemental composition among the island categories. While we cannot evaluate the cause of the apparent homeostasis of invertebrates without additional data, we can conclude that from the perspective of the next trophic level, there is no difference in diet quality (in terms of N and P content) between island categories. Thus, bottom-up effects seemed mainly be mediated via changes in resource quantity not quality. Despite a large potential trophic mismatch we were unable to observe any relation between the invertebrate stoichiometry and their density response to nesting cormorant colonies. We conclude that in our system stoichiometry is not a useful predictor of arthropod responses to variation in resource nutrient content. Furthermore, we found no strong evidence that resource quality was a prime determinant of invertebrate densities. Other factors like resource quantity, habitat structure and species interactions might be more important or masked stoichiometric effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gundula S Kolb
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
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14
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Sun X, Zhou X, Small GE, Sterner R, Kang H, Liu C. Energy storage and C:N:P variation in a holometabolous insect (Curculio davidi Fairmaire) larva across a climate gradient. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 59:408-415. [PMID: 23395823 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2013.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2012] [Revised: 01/24/2013] [Accepted: 01/24/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Increasing empirical evidence has documented variability in elemental composition within species. However, the extent, causes, and pattern of variability in consumer stoichiometry across a large geographical scale are not well understood. Here, we investigated this issue using a holometabolous insect, weevils (Curculio davidi Fairmaire). Larvae of this species store energy needed for diapause, and variable energy requirements across the geographic range of this species could lead to differences in body elemental composition. Our results showed that variability was high (assessed as the coefficient of variation (CV)) in larval body nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) (CV, 10% for N and 13% for P) compared to emerging adults (CV, 5% for N and 8% for P). Temperature-related factors explained more variation than other climatic factors and food for carbon (C), N and P in weevil. In warmer regions, larval C concentration was higher, while N and P were lower. The high C content of weevil larvae relative to both their food source and their adult stage was attributed to energy storage. Across the climatic gradient of its geographic range, larval body C content increased with mean annual temperature and decreased with average diurnal temperature range. This finding implies that temperature-related C storage drives the high variability in elemental composition of larvae across the climate gradient, and also effectively dampens the stoichiometric imbalance between consumers and food resources while serving as an energy reservoir for overwintering and metamorphosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Sun
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China
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El-Sabaawi RW, Zandonà E, Kohler TJ, Marshall MC, Moslemi JM, Travis J, López-Sepulcre A, Ferriére R, Pringle CM, Thomas SA, Reznick DN, Flecker AS. Widespread intraspecific organismal stoichiometry among populations of the Trinidadian guppy. Funct Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2012.01974.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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El-Sabaawi RW, Kohler TJ, Zandoná E, Travis J, Marshall MC, Thomas SA, Reznick DN, Walsh M, Gilliam JF, Pringle C, Flecker AS. Environmental and organismal predictors of intraspecific variation in the stoichiometry of a neotropical freshwater fish. PLoS One 2012; 7:e32713. [PMID: 22412911 PMCID: PMC3295771 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2011] [Accepted: 01/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The elemental composition of animals, or their organismal stoichiometry, is thought to constrain their contribution to nutrient recycling, their interactions with other animals, and their demographic rates. Factors that affect organismal stoichiometry are generally poorly understood, but likely reflect elemental investments in morphological features and life history traits, acting in concert with the environmental availability of elements. We assessed the relative contribution of organismal traits and environmental variability to the stoichiometry of an insectivorous Neotropical stream fish, Rivulus hartii. We characterized the influence of body size, life history phenotype, stage of maturity, and environmental variability on organismal stoichiometry in 6 streams that differ in a broad suite of environmental variables. The elemental composition of R. hartii was variable, and overlapped with the wide range of elemental composition documented across freshwater fish taxa. Average %P composition was ∼3.2%(±0.6), average %N∼10.7%(±0.9), and average %C∼41.7%(±3.1). Streams were the strongest predictor of organismal stoichiometry, and explained up to 18% of the overall variance. This effect appeared to be largely explained by variability in quality of basal resources such as epilithon N∶P and benthic organic matter C∶N, along with variability in invertebrate standing stocks, an important food source for R. hartii. Organismal traits were weak predictors of organismal stoichiometry in this species, explaining when combined up to 7% of the overall variance in stoichiometry. Body size was significantly and positively correlated with %P, and negatively with N∶P, and C∶P, and life history phenotype was significantly correlated with %C, %P, C∶P and C∶N. Our study suggests that spatial variability in elemental availability is more strongly correlated with organismal stoichiometry than organismal traits, and suggests that the stoichiometry of carnivores may not be completely buffered from environmental variability. We discuss the relevance of these findings to ecological stoichiometry theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana W El-Sabaawi
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America.
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González AL, Fariña JM, Kay AD, Pinto R, Marquet PA. Exploring patterns and mechanisms of interspecific and intraspecific variation in body elemental composition of desert consumers. OIKOS 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2010.19151.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Hawlena D, Schmitz O. Physiological Stress as a Fundamental Mechanism Linking Predation to Ecosystem Functioning. Am Nat 2010; 176:537-56. [DOI: 10.1086/656495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 288] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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