Carbon/nitrogen/phosphorus (C/N/P) ratio

Range marine heterotrophic bacteria ~69/16/1 Prochlorococcus 46/10/1 Synechococcus 301/49/1 carbon/nitrogen/phosphorus
Organism bacteria
Reference Jover LF, Effler TC, Buchan A, Wilhelm SW, Weitz JS. The elemental composition of virus particles: implications for marine biogeochemical cycles. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2014 Jul12(7):519-28. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro3289. p.520 left columnPubMed ID24931044
Primary Source [5] Suttle, C. A. Marine viruses — major players in the global ecosystem. Nature Rev. Microbiol. 5, 801–812 (2007). [12] Bertilsson, S. et al. Elemental composition of marine Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus: implications for the ecological stoichiometry of the sea. Limnol. Oceanogr. 48, 1721–1731 (2003). link PubMed ID17853907
Method Primary source [12] abstract:"[Investigators] analyzed the cellular carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents of Prochlorococcus (MED4) and Synechococcus (WH8103 and WH8012) under nutrient-replete and P-starved conditions."
Comments P.519 right column bottom paragraph: "The baseline for studies of the elemental stoichiometry of marine microorganisms was established more than 60 years ago by Alfred Redfield, who estimated that marine plankton (and organic marine detritus) have a carbon/nitrogen/phosphorus (C/N/P) ratio of 106/16/1 (BNID 112423). The Redfield ratio remains the foundation for studies of the elemental composition of marine microorganisms and organic matter, particularly in the deep oceans [refs 4,15]. Indeed, the observed elemental ratios can vary greatly with the component of marine organic biomass that is under consideration: for example, estimates of C/N/P for marine heterotrophic bacteria are reported to be around 69/16/1 (primary source 5), and measurements for individual cyanobacterial isolates include 46/10/1 (for Prochlorococcus sp. MED4 under phosphorus‑replete conditions) and 301/49/1 (for Synechococcus sp. WH8013 under phosphorus‑limited conditions) (primary source 12). Thus, the elemental stoichiometry of bacterial cells varies with taxa and growth conditions and often differs substantially from the Redfield ratio (reviewed in ref. 16)."
Entered by Uri M
ID 112424