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Contrasting size evolution in marine and freshwater diatoms
- Source :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 106:2665-2670
- Publication Year :
- 2009
- Publisher :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009.
-
Abstract
- Diatoms are key players in the global carbon cycle and most aquatic ecosystems. Their cell sizes impact carbon sequestration and energy transfer to higher trophic levels. We report fundamental differences in size distributions of marine and freshwater diatoms, with marine diatoms significantly larger than freshwater species. An evolutionary game theoretical model with empirical allometries of growth and nutrient uptake shows that these differences can be explained by nitrogen versus phosphorus limitation, nutrient fluctuations and mixed layer depth differences. Constant and pulsed phosphorus supply select for small sizes, as does constant nitrogen supply. In contrast, intermediate frequency nitrogen pulses common in the ocean select for large sizes or the evolutionarily stable coexistence of large and small sizes. Size-dependent sinking interacts with mixed layer depth (MLD) to further modulate optimal sizes, with smaller sizes selected for by strong sinking and shallow MLD. In freshwaters, widespread phosphorus limitation, together with strong sinking and shallow MLD produce size distributions with smaller range, means and upper values, compared with the ocean. Shifting patterns of nutrient limitation and mixing may alter diatom size distributions, affecting global carbon cycle and the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems.
- Subjects :
- Diatoms
Multidisciplinary
biology
Nitrogen
Ecology
Mixed layer
Phosphorus
Aquatic ecosystem
fungi
chemistry.chemical_element
Fresh Water
Biological Sciences
Carbon sequestration
biology.organism_classification
Biological Evolution
Models, Biological
Carbon cycle
Oceanography
Diatom
Nutrient
chemistry
Seawater
Ecosystem
Trophic level
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10916490 and 00278424
- Volume :
- 106
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....f61f0aec338161ecde1665c4a04ede0b