DOI: 10.5061/dryad.cc780
title: Data from: Impact of temperature and nutrients on carbon: nutrient tissue stoichiometry of submerged aquatic plants: an experiment and meta-analysis

description: Human activity is currently changing our environment rapidly, with
 predicted temperature increases of 1–5°C over the coming century and
 increased nitrogen and phosphorus inputs in aquatic ecosystems. In the
 shallow parts of these ecosystems, submerged aquatic plants enhance water
 clarity by resource competition with phytoplankton, provide habitat, and
 serve as a food source for other organisms. The carbon:nutrient
 stoichiometry of submerged aquatic plants can be affected by changes in
 both temperature and nutrient availability. We hypothesized that elevated
 temperature leads to higher carbon:nutrient ratios through enhanced
 nutrient-use efficiency, while nutrient addition leads to lower
 carbon:nutrient ratios by the luxurious uptake of nutrients. We addressed
 these hypotheses with an experimental and a meta-analytical approach. We
 performed a full-factorial microcosm experiment with the freshwater plant
 Elodea nuttallii grown at 10, 15, 20, and 25°C on sediment consisting of
 pond soil/sand mixtures with 100, 50, 25, and 12.5% pond soil. To address
 the effect of climatic warming and nutrient addition on the
 carbon:nutrient stoichiometry of submerged freshwater and marine plants we
 performed a meta-analysis on experimental studies that elevated
 temperature and/or added nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). In the
 microcosm experiment, C:N ratios of Elodea nuttallii decreased with
 increasing temperature, and this effect was most pronounced at
 intermediate nutrient availability. Furthermore, higher nutrient
 availability led to decreased aboveground C:P ratios. In the
 meta-analysis, nutrient addition led to a 25, 22, and 16% reduction in
 aboveground C:N and C:P ratios and belowground C:N ratios, accompanied
 with increased N content. No consistent effect of elevated temperature on
 plant stoichiometry could be observed, as very few studies were found on
 this topic and contrasting results were reported. We conclude that while
 nutrient addition consistently leads to decreased carbon:nutrient ratios,
 elevated temperature does not change submerged aquatic plant
 carbon:nutrient stoichiometry in a consistent manner. This effect is
 rather dependent on nutrient availability and may be species-specific. As
 changes in the carbon:nutrient stoichiometry of submerged aquatic plants
 can impact the transfer of energy to higher trophic levels, these results
 suggest that eutrophication may enhance plant consumption and
 decomposition, which could in turn have consequences for carbon
 sequestration.
description: Data from Velthuis et
 al., 2017 Frontiers in Plant ScienceHuman activity is
 currently changing our environment rapidly, with predicted temperature
 increases of 1–5°C over the coming century and increased nitrogen and
 phosphorus inputs in aquatic ecosystems. In the shallow parts of these
 ecosystems, submerged aquatic plants enhance water clarity by resource
 competition with phytoplankton, provide habitat, and serve as a food
 source for other organisms. The carbon:nutrient stoichiometry of submerged
 aquatic plants can be affected by changes in both temperature and nutrient
 availability. We hypothesized that elevated temperature leads to higher
 carbon:nutrient ratios through enhanced nutrient-use efficiency, while
 nutrient addition leads to lower carbon:nutrient ratios by the luxurious
 uptake of nutrients. We addressed these hypotheses with an experimental
 and a meta-analytical approach. We performed a full-factorial microcosm
 experiment with the freshwater plant Elodea nuttallii grown at 10, 15, 20,
 and 25°C on sediment consisting of pond soil/sand mixtures with 100, 50,
 25, and 12.5% pond soil. To address the effect of climatic warming and
 nutrient addition on the carbon:nutrient stoichiometry of submerged
 freshwater and marine plants we performed a meta-analysis on experimental
 studies that elevated temperature and/or added nutrients (nitrogen and
 phosphorus). In the microcosm experiment, C:N ratios of Elodea nuttallii
 decreased with increasing temperature, and this effect was most pronounced
 at intermediate nutrient availability. Furthermore, higher nutrient
 availability led to decreased aboveground C:P ratios. In the
 meta-analysis, nutrient addition led to a 25, 22, and 16% reduction in
 aboveground C:N and C:P ratios and belowground C:N ratios, accompanied
 with increased N content. No consistent effect of elevated temperature on
 plant stoichiometry could be observed, as very few studies were found on
 this topic and contrasting results were reported. We conclude that while
 nutrient addition consistently leads to decreased carbon:nutrient ratios,
 elevated temperature does not change submerged aquatic plant
 carbon:nutrient stoichiometry in a consistent manner. This effect is
 rather dependent on nutrient availability and may be species-specific. As
 changes in the carbon:nutrient stoichiometry of submerged aquatic plants
 can impact the transfer of energy to higher trophic levels, these results
 suggest that eutrophication may enhance plant consumption and
 decomposition, which could in turn have consequences for carbon
 sequestration.