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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Alan D. Christian

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Guest Editor

School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
Interests: freshwater ecology; conservation; freshwater macroinvertebrates; freshwater mussels; conservation genetics; restoration ecology; ecological stoichiometry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ecological Stoichiometry, the balance of multiple chemical elements and energy in ecological interactions, has a long history going back to the 1950s and a resurrection of sorts in the 1980s. From that point on, ecological stoichiometry has gained widespread recognition as an underlying framework in ecology, particularly, aquatic ecosystem ecology. Within that framework, ecological stoichiometry ranges the scales of atoms, molecules, individuals, communities, ecosystems, and the globe and is related to resources, body composition, and homoeostasis of autotropic and heterotrophic organisms. This Special Issue on Ecological Stoichiometry for Aquatic Ecosystems Studies wishes to address the breadth of the application of ecological stoichiometry to all types of ecological and evolutionary questions in aquatic systems as well as highlight recent advances in the field of aquatic ecological stoichiometry.

Dr. Alan D. Christian
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

Ecological stoichiometry
Biogeochemistry
Nutrient cycling
Consumer-driven nutrient recycling
Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, C/N/P ratio
C/N ratio, C/P ratio, N/P ratio
Autotrophs
Heterotrophs
Growth
Homeostasis
Food quality
Elemental composition
Excretion
Feces
Pseudofeces

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

11 pages, 1213 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trophic Trait Evolution Explains Variation in Nutrient Excretion Stoichiometry among Panamanian Armored Catfishes (Loricariidae)

by Eric K. Moody, Fernando Alda, Krista A. Capps, Oscar Puebla and Benjamin L. Turner

Diversity 2019, 11(6), 88; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d11060088 - 05 Jun 2019

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3318

Abstract

Variation in nutrient excretion rates and stoichiometric ratios (e.g., nitrogen to phosphorus) by consumers can have substantial effects on aquatic ecosystem function. While phylogenetic signals within an assemblage often explain variation in nutrient recycling rates and stoichiometry, the phylogenetically conserved traits that underlie this phenomenon remain unclear. In particular, variation in nutrient excretion stoichiometry across a phylogeny might be driven by phylogenetic patterns in either diet or body stoichiometry. We examined the relative importance of these traits in explaining variation in nutrient recycling rates and stoichiometry in a diverse family of Neotropical-armored catfishes, Loricariidae, in Panamanian streams. We found significant variation in nutrient mineralization traits among species and subfamilies, but variation in nutrient excretion stoichiometry among species was best explained by trophic position rather than body stoichiometry. The variation in trophic position among Panamanian species was consistent with variation in the trophic niche of their genera across South America, suggesting that phylogenetic patterns underpin the evolution of trophic and nutrient excretion traits among these species. Such geographical variation in nutrient mineralization patterns among closely related species may be common, given that trophic variation in fish lineages occurs widely. These results suggest that information on trophic trait evolution within lineages will advance our understanding of the functional contribution of animals to biogeochemical cycling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Stoichiometry for Aquatic Ecosystem Studies)

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Review

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16 pages, 1417 KiB

Open AccessReview

Egestion Versus Excretion: A Meta-Analysis Examining Nutrient Release Rates and Ratios across Freshwater Fauna

by Halvor M. Halvorson and Carla L. Atkinson

Diversity 2019, 11(10), 189; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d11100189 - 03 Oct 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4587

Abstract

In aquatic settings, animals directly affect ecosystem functions through excretion of dissolved nutrients. However, the comparative role of egestion as an animal-mediated nutrient flux remains understudied. We conducted a literature survey and meta-analysis to directly compare nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and N:P of egestion compared to excretion rates and ratios across freshwater animals. Synthesizing 215 datasets across 47 animal species (all primary consumers or omnivores), we show that the total N and P egestion rates exceed inorganic N and P excretion rates but not total N and P excretion rates, and that proportions of P egested compared to excreted depend on body size and animal phylum. We further show that variance of egestion rates is often greater than excretion rates, reflecting greater inter-individual and temporal variation of egestion as a nutrient flux in comparison to excretion. At phylogenetic levels, our analysis suggests that Mollusca exhibit the greatest rates and variance of P egestion relative to excretion, especially compared to Arthropoda. Given quantitative evidence of egestion as a dominant and dynamic animal-mediated nutrient flux, our synthesis demonstrates the need for additional studies of rates, stoichiometry, and roles of animal egestion in aquatic settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Stoichiometry for Aquatic Ecosystem Studies)

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