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Stoichiometric regulation of phytoplankton toxins
- Source :
- Ecology Letters, 17(6), 736-742. Wiley-Blackwell
- Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Ecological Stoichiometry theory predicts that the production, elemental structure and cellular content of biomolecules should depend on the relative availability of resources and the elemental composition of their producer organism. We review the extent to which carbon- and nitrogen-rich phytoplankton toxins are regulated by nutrient limitation and cellular stoichiometry. Consistent with theory, we show that nitrogen limitation causes a reduction in the cellular quota of nitrogen-rich toxins, while phosphorus limitation causes an increase in the most nitrogen-rich paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin. In addition, we show that the cellular content of nitrogen-rich toxins increases with increasing cellular N : P ratios. Also consistent with theory, limitation by either nitrogen or phosphorus promotes the C-rich toxin cell quota or toxicity of phytoplankton cells. These observed relationships may assist in predicting and managing toxin-producing phytoplankton blooms. Such a stoichiometric regulation of toxins is likely not restricted to phytoplankton, and may well apply to carbon- and nitrogen-rich secondary metabolites produced by bacteria, fungi and plants.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
Nitrogen
chemistry.chemical_element
010501 environmental sciences
Biology
01 natural sciences
Algal bloom
Nutrient
Phytoplankton
Ecological stoichiometry
medicine
Paralytic shellfish poisoning
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Organism
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Toxins, Biological
Ecology
010604 marine biology & hydrobiology
Phosphorus
fungi
biology.organism_classification
medicine.disease
Carbon
chemistry
13. Climate action
international
Bacteria
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1461023X
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Ecology Letters, 17(6), 736-742. Wiley-Blackwell
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a1236b5ddc85614ee8ffb0081fbefdb1