Ecological Stoichiometry of Marine Phytoplankton

Ecological stoichiometry examines the elemental composition of marine phytoplankton—principally the ratios of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus—and how it regulates growth, competition and biogeochemical cycles. Variability in cellular C:N:P arises from interactions between nutrient supply, light availability, temperature and phylogenetic traits, reflecting adjustments in macromolecular pools such as proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. These stoichiometric shifts influence nutrient recycling, carbon export and feedbacks to global climate. Understanding the mechanistic controls on phytoplankton elemental balance informs predictive models of ocean productivity, aids interpretation of field observations and supports management of marine resources under changing environmental conditions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have revealed how regional nutrient supply and trace‐metal availability shape the elemental ratios in marine particulate matter. Data from the eastern Indian Ocean illustrate pronounced spatial and temporal variation in C:N:P that cannot be attributed to shifts in plankton biodiversity alone, but are driven by differential nutrient supply rates and iron limitation. A mechanistic framework coupling dissolved iron concentrations, N₂ fixation and lateral nutrient transport successfully reproduces observed stoichiometric gradients, emphasising the key role of micronutrient stress in controlling phytoplankton elemental composition across ocean gyres.

Ecological Stoichiometry of Marine Phytoplankton publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in ecological stoichiometry of marine phytoplankton across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Ecological stoichiometry: The study of the balance of multiple chemical elements in ecological interactions and processes.

Redfield ratio: The canonical atomic ratio of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus (106 : 16 : 1) in marine organic matter.

Particulate organic matter (POM): Organic particles in the water column derived from living organisms or detritus.

Dissolved inorganic nutrient: Inorganic forms of essential elements, such as nitrate, phosphate and silicate, dissolved in seawater.

Subsistence quota: The minimum cellular concentration of a nutrient required to sustain maintenance metabolism.

References

1. Effects of phytoplankton physiology on global ocean biogeochemistry and climate. Science Advances (2023).
2. Proteome trait regulation of marine Synechococcus elemental stoichiometry under global change. The ISME Journal: Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology (2024).
3. Phylogenetic Diversity in the Macromolecular Composition of Microalgae. PLOS ONE (2016).
4. Nutrient supply controls particulate elemental concentrations and ratios in the low latitude eastern Indian Ocean. Nature Communications (2018).
5. A meta-analysis on environmental drivers of marine phytoplankton C : N : P. Biogeosciences (2020).