Shifts in ecosystem functioning of a detritus-based foodweb explained by imbalances between resource and consumer stoichiometry

• The stoichiometric imbalance between consumers and resources can affect both resource processing rates and consumer growth, and thus constitutes a potentially important driver of ecosystem functioning. We hypothesized that imbalances in nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and carbon (C) concentrations between detritus and detritivores would have contrasting effects on two related ecosystem processes, with stronger imbalances triggering compensatory feeding while simultaneously constraining detritivore growth. In a stream field experiment, we found that growth of detritivores was constrained by stoichiometric imbalances mostly driven by N limitation, but there was no evidence for compensatory feeding. However, when offered diets of mixed litter with varying N:P and C:N, detritivores preferred the litter species showing the closest match to their own N:P and C:N, which drove accelerated processing of the preferred species in mixture. Our results highlight the role of stoichiometric imbalances between consumers and resources in regulating ecosystem processes.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Leaf litter decomposition

brown food web

N:P

threshold elemental ratio

degree of elemental mismatch

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)