Consistent nutrient storage and supply mediated by diverse fish communities in coral reef ecosystems
Consistent nutrient storage and supply mediated by diverse fish communities in coral reef ecosystems
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DOI：
10.1111/gcb.12566
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发表时间：
2014-08-01
影响因子：
11.6
通讯作者：
Rosemond, Amy D.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Allgeier, Jacob E.;Layman, Craig A.;Rosemond, Amy D.
珊瑚在低营养环境中茁壮成长，这些全球濒危生态系统的保护在很大程度上取决于减轻人为营养富集的影响。然而，为了更好地了解人为营养物质的影响，需要对这些生态系统内的基线营养动态有更深入的了解。在这里，我们通过研究鱼类群落在氮（N）和磷（P）的供应和储存中的作用，为珊瑚礁营养动态提供了一个新的视角。我们量化了鱼类介导的营养储存和供应的144个物种，并模拟这些数据到172个鱼类群落（71 729条鱼），在四种类型的珊瑚礁，以及海草和红树林生态系统，整个北方安的列斯群岛。鱼类群落提供和储存了大量的营养物质，其比率因生态系统类型而异。鱼类群落的大小结构和多样性最能预测N和P的供应和储存以及N：P供应，这表明鱼类群落的改变（例如：例如，在一个实施例中，过度捕捞）将对这些系统的营养动态产生重要影响。化学计量比（N：P）的存储在鱼群（类似8：1）和供应（类似20：1）是非常一致的四种珊瑚礁类型（但不是海草或红树林生态系统）。已发表的珊瑚营养富集研究表明，偏离这一N：P供应比例可能与珊瑚适应性差有关，为珊瑚及其共生体可能适应特定营养供应比例的假设提供了定性支持。消费者营养物质化学计量提供了一个基线，可以更好地了解珊瑚礁和其他沿海生态系统中的营养物质动态，如果我们要采取更有效的措施，确保世界海洋未来的健康，就非常需要这些信息。
Corals thrive in low nutrient environments and the conservation of these globally imperiled ecosystems is largely dependent on mitigating the effects of anthropogenic nutrient enrichment. However, to better understand the implications of anthropogenic nutrients requires a heightened understanding of baseline nutrient dynamics within these ecosystems. Here, we provide a novel perspective on coral reef nutrient dynamics by examining the role of fish communities in the supply and storage of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). We quantified fish-mediated nutrient storage and supply for 144 species and modeled these data onto 172 fish communities (71 729 individual fish), in four types of coral reefs, as well as seagrass and mangrove ecosystems, throughout the Northern Antilles. Fish communities supplied and stored large quantities of nutrients, with rates varying among ecosystem types. The size structure and diversity of the fish communities best predicted N and P supply and storage and N : P supply, suggesting that alterations to fish communities (e. g., overfishing) will have important implications for nutrient dynamics in these systems. The stoichiometric ratio (N : P) for storage in fish mass (similar to 8 : 1) and supply (similar to 20 : 1) was notably consistent across the four coral reef types (but not seagrass or mangrove ecosystems). Published nutrient enrichment studies on corals show that deviations from this N : P supply ratio may be associated with poor coral fitness, providing qualitative support for the hypothesis that corals and their symbionts may be adapted to specific ratios of nutrient supply. Consumer nutrient stoichiometry provides a baseline from which to better understand nutrient dynamics in coral reef and other coastal ecosystems, information that is greatly needed if we are to implement more effective measures to ensure the future health of the world's oceans.