Empirical models of phosphorus and nitrogen excretion rates by zooplankton

Although rates of P and N excretion by zooplankton have important implications for nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems, the literature offers few quantitative general models of these processes. We used data collected from published studies to construct potentially predictive models of P and N excretion rates by zooplankton from freshwater and marine habitats. Excretion rates of P and N are strongly correlated (r2 = 0.88) and consequently each predicts the other best. Respiration rate is also highly significantly correlated with P and N excretion rates and is the second best predictor. Although body size explained relatively less overall variability, the inclusion of temperature, container volume, and experimental duration as independent variables in multiple regressions substantially improved the predictive power of models based on body size. The models can be corrected for taxonomic biases in zooplankton, but these biases were usually small. These models could provide both a basis for further empirical analysis of the determinants of zooplankton nutrient excretion and a means of predicting the fate of nutrients in aquatic ecosystems.

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