Gene

Phytoplankton

Ecology

Bacteria

Algae

Biology

Phosphorus

Biochemistry

Botany

Nitrogen

Cyanobacteria

Dominance (genetics)

Genetics

Physics

Organic chemistry

Optics

Environmental science

Abundance (ecology)

Photosynthesis

Chemistry

Nitrogen fixation

Nutrient

Anabaena

Light intensity

Eutrophication

Ecosystem

Oikos

OikosVolume 119, Issue 3 p. 567-575 Interactive effects of N:P ratios and light on nitrogen-fixer abundance Paula De Tezanos Pinto, Paula De Tezanos Pinto Depto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Univ. de Buenos Aires. PTPSearch for more papers by this authorElena Litchman, Elena Litchman Depto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Univ. de Buenos Aires. PTPSearch for more papers by this author Paula De Tezanos Pinto, Paula De Tezanos Pinto Depto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Univ. de Buenos Aires. PTPSearch for more papers by this authorElena Litchman, Elena Litchman Depto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Univ. de Buenos Aires. PTPSearch for more papers by this author First published: 13 April 2010 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0706.2009.17924.xCitations: 45 P. de Tezanos Pinto, Depto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Univ. de Buenos Aires. PTP E-mail: paulatezanos@ege.fcen.uba.ar Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract Nitrogen-fixers can contribute significant amounts of nitrogen (N) and impact ecosystem functioning in diverse aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. What determines N-fixer abundance still remains poorly understood. Here we experimentally investigate major environmental controls on the abundance of N-fixers: nitrogen to phosphorus (N:P) ratio and light. We grew a N-fixer, cyanobacterium Anabaena flos-aquae, in a multispecies community of freshwater phytoplankton in replicated factorial design treatments with two N:P ratios and two light levels. We show that low N:P ratios promote the dominance of the N-fixer in the community, but only under high light. Under low light, N:P ratio did not have a significant effect on the abundance of the N-fixer. N fixation occurred at low N:P only and increased with increasing light. In contrast, the density of non N-fixing cyanobacteria did not depend on N:P ratios. Green algae dominated under high N:P and high light only, exhibiting the opposite pattern of dominance to N-fixers. These results are consistent with patterns observed in nature and help explain the N-fixer distribution along the environmental gradients of nutrients and light. Citing Literature Volume119, Issue3March 2010Pages 567-575 RelatedInformation

Interactive effects of N:P ratios and light on nitrogen-fixer abundance