Journal
ECOLOGY LETTERS
Volume 10, Issue 12, Pages 1135-1142Publisher
BLACKWELL PUBLISHING
DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01113.x
Keywords
ecosystem; meta-analysis; nitrogen; nutrient limitation; phosphorus; primary production
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The cycles of the key nutrient elements nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) have been massively altered by anthropogenic activities. Thus, it is essential to understand how photosynthetic production across diverse ecosystems is, or is not, limited by N and P. Via a large-scale meta-analysis of experimental enrichments, we show that P limitation is equally strong across these major habitats and that N and P limitation are equivalent within both terrestrial and freshwater systems. Furthermore, simultaneous N and P enrichment produces strongly positive synergistic responses in all three environments. Thus, contrary to some prevailing paradigms, freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems are surprisingly similar in terms of N and P limitation.
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