Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-12-2307-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-12-2307-2015
03 Feb 2015
 | 03 Feb 2015
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal BG but the revision was not accepted.

Relationship between N : P : Si ratio and phytoplankton community composition in a tropical estuarine mangrove ecosystem

A. K. Choudhury and P. Bhadury

Abstract. The present work aims at understanding the importance of Brzezinski–Redfield ratio (modified Redfield ratio) as a determinant of natural phytoplankton community composition in a mangrove ecosystem. Even though this ecoregion has been reported to be mostly eutrophic, localised and anthropogenic influences often result in habitat variability especially with regard to nutrient concentrations at different parts of this ecosystem. Phytoplankton, an important sentinel in aquatic ecosystems may respond differently to such alterations in habitat thereby bringing about significant changes in the community composition. Results show that even though habitat variability does exist at our study area and varied on a spatial and temporal scale, the nutrient concentrations were intricately balanced that never became limited and complemented well with the concept of modified Redfield ratio. However, an integrative approach to study phytoplankton community involving microscopy and rbcL clone library and sequencing approach revealed that it was the functional traits of individual phytoplankton taxa that determined the phytoplankton community composition rather than the nutrient concentrations of the study area. Hence we conclude that the recent concept of functional traits and elemental stoichiometry does not remain restricted to controlled environment of experimental studies only but occur in natural mangrove habitat.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
A. K. Choudhury and P. Bhadury
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
A. K. Choudhury and P. Bhadury
A. K. Choudhury and P. Bhadury

Viewed

Total article views: 1,697 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
1,059 512 126 1,697 240 70 107
  • HTML: 1,059
  • PDF: 512
  • XML: 126
  • Total: 1,697
  • Supplement: 240
  • BibTeX: 70
  • EndNote: 107
Views and downloads (calculated since 03 Feb 2015)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 03 Feb 2015)

Cited

Saved

Latest update: 05 Oct 2024
Download
Short summary
The present work aims at understanding importance of Brzezinski-Redfield ratio as a determinant of natural phytoplankton community composition in a mangrove ecosystem. Results show that nutrient concentrations were intricately balanced that never became limited and complemented well with concept of modified Redfield ratio in study area. Based on microscopy and rbcL sequencing, we show recent concepts of phytoplankton functional traits and elemental stoichiometry also occur in mangrove habitat.
Altmetrics