Biological stoichiometry of plant production : metabolism, scaling and ecological response to global change

Biological stoichiometry theory considers the balance of multiple chemical elements in living systems, whereas metabolic scaling theory considers how size affects metabolic properties from cells to ecosystems. We review recent developments integrating biological stoichiometry and metabolic scaling t...

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Veröffentlicht in:The New phytologist. - 1990. - 186(2010), 3 vom: 01. Mai, Seite 593-608
1. Verfasser: Elser, J J (VerfasserIn)
Weitere Verfasser: Fagan, W F, Kerkhoff, A J, Swenson, N G, Enquist, B J
Format: Online-Aufsatz
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: 2010
Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk:The New phytologist
Schlagworte:Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Review Phosphorus 27YLU75U4W Carbon 7440-44-0 Nitrogen N762921K75
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Biological stoichiometry theory considers the balance of multiple chemical elements in living systems, whereas metabolic scaling theory considers how size affects metabolic properties from cells to ecosystems. We review recent developments integrating biological stoichiometry and metabolic scaling theories in the context of plant ecology and global change. Although vascular plants exhibit wide variation in foliar carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus ratios, they exhibit a higher degree of 'stoichiometric homeostasis' than previously appreciated. Thus, terrestrial carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus stoichiometry will reflect the effects of adjustment to local growth conditions as well as species' replacements. Plant stoichiometry exhibits size scaling, as foliar nutrient concentration decreases with increasing plant size, especially for phosphorus. Thus, small plants have lower nitrogen:phosphorus ratios. Furthermore, foliar nutrient concentration is reflected in other tissues (root, reproductive, support), permitting the development of empirical models of production that scale from tissue to whole-plant levels. Plant stoichiometry exhibits large-scale macroecological patterns, including stronger latitudinal trends and environmental correlations for phosphorus concentration (relative to nitrogen) and a positive correlation between nutrient concentrations and geographic range size. Given this emerging knowledge of how plant nutrients respond to environmental variables and are connected to size, the effects of global change factors (such as carbon dioxide, temperature, nitrogen deposition) can be better understood
Beschreibung:Date Completed 03.09.2010
Date Revised 08.04.2022
published: Print-Electronic
Citation Status MEDLINE
ISSN:1469-8137
DOI:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03214.x