Effects of nutrients and physical lake characteristics on bacterial and phytoplankton production : A meta-analysis

• We performed a meta-analysis comprising field (300 studies) and experimental data (249 studies) from a widerange of lake trophic states and locations. We examined the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), carbon(dissolved organic matter [DOM]), temperature, latitude, and lake morphometry on the absolute and relative ratesof phytoplankton primary production (PPr) and secondary bacterial production (BP). Areal and volumetric rates ofPPr, BP, and BP : PPr were compared, and we analyzed differences between experimental and natural systems. Bothfield studies and experimental results showed agreement with regard to N and P as predictors of volumetric PPr andBP, respectively, despite the large variation in study duration, size, and nutrient addition rates in experimentalsystems. This indicates that bacteria and phytoplankton do not seem to be competing for the same nutrients. Arealmeasurements were more difficult to predict and were more dependent on physical lake characteristics thannutrients. Temperature was positively correlated with PPr, but not with BP. BP: PPr was stable across experimentsregardless of N, P, DOM, or glucose additions. In contrast, BP : PPr ratios varied greatly in the field data set andwere highest in systems with low total N and at high latitudes. This pattern was driven by reduced PPr, not BP;therefore, experimenters may need to manipulate PPr to change BP: PPr. Collectively, our results indicate thatincreased temperatures and N availability will lead to higher PPr and lower BP : PPr, potentially decreasing theimportance of energy mobilized through the microbial food web on a global scale.

Subject headings

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

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

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske -- Fisk- och akvakulturforskning (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries -- Fish and Aquacultural Science (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Annan lantbruksvetenskap -- Miljö- och naturvårdsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Other Agricultural Sciences -- Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use (hsv//eng)

Keyword

bacteria

phytoplankton production

meta-analysis

nutrients

Freshwater ecology

Limnisk ekologi

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)