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Ecoenzymatic stoichiometry of microbial organic nutrient acquisition in soil and sediment

Author

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  • Robert L. Sinsabaugh

    (University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 871312, USA)

  • Brian H. Hill

    (US Environmental Protection Agency, National Health & Environmental Effects Laboratory, Duluth, Minnesota 55804-2595, USA)

  • Jennifer J. Follstad Shah

    (Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA)

Abstract

Ecoenzymes in balance The flow of energy and nutrients through an ecosystem is governed by both metabolic limitations and nutrient availability. A study of the external 'ecoenzymes' released into the environment by microbes to digest organic matter now shows that the activity of these enzymes follows a consistent scaling relationship that is independent of microbial community composition. The four enzymes mediating a large fraction of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition by heterotrophic microbial communities were measured in soil and freshwater sediments, and the ratio of C to N to P assimilation activity was close to 1:1:1 in all habitats. Ecoenzyme activity can be seen as linking the two principal unifying theories of ecology — stoichiometric and metabolic theories — since enzyme expression is a product of cellular metabolism specifically regulated by the random nature of environmental nutrient availability.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert L. Sinsabaugh & Brian H. Hill & Jennifer J. Follstad Shah, 2009. "Ecoenzymatic stoichiometry of microbial organic nutrient acquisition in soil and sediment," Nature, Nature, vol. 462(7274), pages 795-798, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:462:y:2009:i:7274:d:10.1038_nature08632
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08632
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    1. Jörg Schnecker & Birgit Wild & Florian Hofhansl & Ricardo J Eloy Alves & Jiří Bárta & Petr Čapek & Lucia Fuchslueger & Norman Gentsch & Antje Gittel & Georg Guggenberger & Angelika Hofer & Sandra Kien, 2014. "Effects of Soil Organic Matter Properties and Microbial Community Composition on Enzyme Activities in Cryoturbated Arctic Soils," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(4), pages 1-10, April.
    2. Julian Cardenas & Fernando Santa & Eva Kaštovská, 2021. "The Exudation of Surplus Products Links Plant Functional Traits and Plant-Microbial Stoichiometry," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, August.
    3. Avijit Ghosh & Suheel Ahmad & Amit K. Singh & Pramod Jha & Rajendra Kumar Yadav & Raimundo Jiménez Ballesta & Sheeraz Saleem Bhatt & Nagaratna Biradar & Nazim Hamid Mir, 2024. "Soil Carbon Storage, Enzymatic Stoichiometry, and Ecosystem Functions in Indian Himalayan Legume-Diversified Pastures," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Susheel Bhanu Busi & Massimo Bourquin & Stilianos Fodelianakis & Grégoire Michoud & Tyler J. Kohler & Hannes Peter & Paraskevi Pramateftaki & Michail Styllas & Matteo Tolosano & Vincent Staercke & Mar, 2022. "Genomic and metabolic adaptations of biofilms to ecological windows of opportunity in glacier-fed streams," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Daniela Figueroa & Patricia Ortega-Fernández & Thalita F. Abbruzzini & Anaitzi Rivero-Villlar & Francisco Galindo & Bruno Chavez-Vergara & Jorge D. Etchevers & Julio Campo, 2020. "Effects of Land Use Change from Natural Forest to Livestock on Soil C, N and P Dynamics along a Rainfall Gradient in Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-20, October.
    6. Zhiyuan Hu & Jiating Li & Kangwei Shi & Guangqian Ren & Zhicong Dai & Jianfan Sun & Xiaojun Zheng & Yiwen Zhou & Jiaqi Zhang & Guanlin Li & Daolin Du, 2021. "Effects of Canada Goldenrod Invasion on Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities and Ecoenzymatic Stoichiometry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-13, March.
    7. C. Pérez-Brandán & J. Huidobro & M. Galván & S. Vargas-Gil & J.M. Meriles, 2016. "Relationship between microbial functions and community structure following agricultural intensification in South American Chaco," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 62(7), pages 321-328.
    8. Yanyu Song & Changchun Song & Jiusheng Ren & Xiuyan Ma & Wenwen Tan & Xianwei Wang & Jinli Gao & Aixin Hou, 2019. "Short-Term Response of the Soil Microbial Abundances and Enzyme Activities to Experimental Warming in a Boreal Peatland in Northeast China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-16, January.
    9. Hannes Peter & Irene Ylla & Cristian Gudasz & Anna M Romaní & Sergi Sabater & Lars J Tranvik, 2011. "Multifunctionality and Diversity in Bacterial Biofilms," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(8), pages 1-8, August.
    10. Yao Zhang & Junqi Wang & Lan Chen & Sha Zhou & Lu Zhang & Fazhu Zhao, 2022. "Different Response of Soil Microbial Carbon Use Efficiency in Compound of Feldspathic Sandstone and Sand," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    11. Meixia Liu & Menglu Wang & Congwei Sun & Hui Wu & Xueqing Zhao & Enke Liu & Wenyi Dong & Meiling Yan, 2023. "Self-Regulation of Soil Enzyme Activity and Stoichiometry under Nitrogen Addition and Plastic Film Mulching in the Loess Plateau Area, Northwest China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-11, April.
    12. Qing Zhao & Jie Tang & Zhaoyang Li & Wei Yang & Yucong Duan, 2018. "The Influence of Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Enzyme Activities on Soil Quality of Saline-Alkali Agroecosystems in Western Jilin Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-15, May.

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