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Nitrogen deposition reveals global patterns in plant and animal stoichiometry

Author

Listed:
  • Angélica L. González

    (Rutgers University, Department of Biology
    Rutgers University, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology)

  • Julian Merder

    (Carnegie Institution for Science, Department of Global Ecology)

  • Karl Andraczek

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    University Leipzig, Department of Life Sciences, Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity)

  • Ulrich Brose

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Biodiversity)

  • Michał Filipiak

    (Jagiellonian University, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology)

  • W. Stanley Harpole

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Department of Physiological Diversity, Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research – UFZ
    Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg)

  • Helmut Hillebrand

    (Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), School of Mathematics and Science
    University of Oldenburg (HIFMB), Helmholtz-Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity
    Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Alfred Wegener Institute)

  • Michelle C. Jackson

    (University of Oxford, Department of Biology)

  • Malte Jochum

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    University of Würzburg, Department of Global Change Ecology, Biocenter
    Leipzig University, Institute of Biology)

  • Shawn J. Leroux

    (Memorial University of Newfoundland, Department of Biology)

  • Mark P. Nessel

    (Rutgers University, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology
    Oklahoma State University, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management)

  • Renske E. Onstein

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Naturalis Biodiversity Center)

  • Rachel Paseka

    (ASRC Federal / NASA Headquarters)

  • George L. W. Perry

    (University of Auckland, School of Environment)

  • Angie Peace

    (Texas Tech University)

  • Amanda Rugenski

    (University of Georgia, Odum School of Ecology)

  • Judith Sitters

    (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Biology
    B-WARE Research Centre)

  • Erik Sperfeld

    (German Environment Agency. Section IV 2.5
    Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald)

  • Maren Striebel

    (Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), School of Mathematics and Science)

  • Eugenia Zandona

    (Rio de Janeiro State University, Department of Ecology)

  • Attila Mozsár

    (HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute)

  • Sarah Bluhm

    (University of Göttingen, Department of Animal Ecology, J.-F. Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology)

  • Hideyuki Doi

    (Kyoto University, Graduate School of Informatics)

  • Nico Eisenhauer

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Leipzig University, Institute of Biology)

  • Vinicius F. Farjalla

    (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Department of Ecology)

  • James Hood

    (The Ohio State University, Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Behavior
    The Ohio State University, Translational Data Analytics Institute)

  • Pavel Kratina

    (Queen Mary University of London, Center for Biodiversity and Sustainability, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences)

  • Catherine Lovelock

    (The University of Queensland, School of Environment)

  • Eric K. Moody

    (Middlebury College, Department of Biology)

  • Melanie E. Pollierer

    (University of Göttingen, Department of Animal Ecology, J.-F. Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology)

  • Anton Potapov

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Leipzig University, Institute of Biology
    University of Göttingen, Department of Animal Ecology, J.-F. Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology)

  • Gustavo Q. Romero

    (University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Department of Animal Biology, Institute of Biology)

  • Jean-Marc Roussel

    (INRAE, DECOD, L’Institut Agro, IFREMER)

  • Stefan Scheu

    (University of Göttingen, Department of Animal Ecology, J.-F. Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology
    University of Göttingen, Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use)

  • Nicole Scheunemann

    (University of Göttingen, Department of Animal Ecology, J.-F. Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology
    Senckenberg Museum for Natural History Görlitz, Soil Zoology Division)

  • Julia Seeber

    (Eurac Research, Institute for Alpine Environment
    Universität Innsbruck, Department of Ecology)

  • Michael Steinwandter

    (Eurac Research, Institute for Alpine Environment)

  • Winda Ika Susanti

    (University of Göttingen, Department of Animal Ecology, J.-F. Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology)

  • Alexei Tiunov

    (Russian Academy of Sciences, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution
    Southern Branch of the Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technological Center)

  • Olivier Dézerald

    (INRAE, DECOD, L’Institut Agro, IFREMER)

Abstract

The elemental content of organisms links cellular biochemistry to ecological processes, from physiology to nutrient dynamics. While plant stoichiometry is thought to vary with climate and nutrient availability across latitudes, the consistency of these patterns across trophic groups and realms remains unclear. Using the StoichLife database, which includes nitrogen and phosphorus content data for 5443 species across 1390 sites, we examine how solar energy (temperature, radiation) and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) influence stoichiometric variation. We find that plant stoichiometry in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems is more strongly associated with environmental gradients, particularly nitrogen deposition, than animal stoichiometry. Contrary to expectations, temperature, radiation, and labile P show limited global effects. Latitudinal patterns in stoichiometry are more closely associated with species turnover rather than intraspecific variation. Given the strong links between stoichiometry and organismal performance, these findings underscore the need to predict the ecological consequences of anthropogenic disruption to global biogeochemical cycles.

Suggested Citation

  • Angélica L. González & Julian Merder & Karl Andraczek & Ulrich Brose & Michał Filipiak & W. Stanley Harpole & Helmut Hillebrand & Michelle C. Jackson & Malte Jochum & Shawn J. Leroux & Mark P. Nessel , 2025. "Nitrogen deposition reveals global patterns in plant and animal stoichiometry," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-65960-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65960-0
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