Nutritional constraints in terrestrial and freshwater food webs

James J. Elser (), William F. Fagan, Robert F. Denno, Dean R. Dobberfuhl, Ayoola Folarin, Andrea Huberty, Sebastian Interlandi, Susan S. Kilham, Edward McCauley, Kimberly L. Schulz, Evan H. Siemann and Robert W. Sterner
Additional contact information
James J. Elser: Arizona State University
William F. Fagan: Arizona State University
Robert F. Denno: University of Maryland
Dean R. Dobberfuhl: Arizona State University
Ayoola Folarin: Arizona State University
Andrea Huberty: University of Maryland
Sebastian Interlandi: School of Environmental Science, Engineering, and Policy, Drexel University
Susan S. Kilham: School of Environmental Science, Engineering, and Policy, Drexel University
Edward McCauley: University of Calgary
Kimberly L. Schulz: State University of New York
Evan H. Siemann: Rice University
Robert W. Sterner: Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota

Nature, 2000, vol. 408, issue 6812, 578-580

Abstract: Abstract Biological and environmental contrasts between aquatic and terrestrial systems have hindered analyses of community and ecosystem structure across Earth's diverse habitats. Ecological stoichiometry1,2 provides an integrative approach for such analyses, as all organisms are composed of the same major elements (C, N, P) whose balance affects production, nutrient cycling, and food-web dynamics3,4. Here we show both similarities and differences in the C:N:P ratios of primary producers (autotrophs) and invertebrate primary consumers (herbivores) across habitats. Terrestrial food webs are built on an extremely nutrient-poor autotroph base with C:P and C:N ratios higher than in lake particulate matter, although the N:P ratios are nearly identical. Terrestrial herbivores (insects) and their freshwater counterparts (zooplankton) are nutrient-rich and indistinguishable in C:N:P stoichiometry. In both lakes and terrestrial systems, herbivores should have low growth efficiencies (10–30%) when consuming autotrophs with typical carbon-to-nutrient ratios. These stoichiometric constraints on herbivore growth appear to be qualitatively similar and widespread in both environments.

Date: 2000
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DOI: 10.1038/35046058

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