An Operational Framework for the Advancement of a Molecule-to-Biosphere Stoichiometry Theory
2017
Cherif, Mehdi | Faithfull, Carolyn | Guo, Junwen | Meunier, Cédric | Sitters, Judith | Uszko, Wojciech | Rivera Vasconcelos, Francisco | Department of Ecology and Environmental Science [Umeå] ; Umeå University = Umeå Universitet | Ecosystèmes aquatiques et changements globaux (UR EABX) ; Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA) | AWI Biologische Anstalt Helgoland ; Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung = Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research = Institut Alfred-Wegener pour la recherche polaire et marine (AWI) ; Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft = Helmholtz Association-Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft = Helmholtz Association | Vrije Universiteit Brussel [Bruxelles] (VUB)
International audience
Show more [+] Less [-]English. Biological stoichiometry is an approach that focuses on the balance of elements in biological interactions. It is a theory that has the potential to causally link material processes at all biological levels-from molecules to the biosphere. But the lack of a coherent operational framework has so far restricted progress in this direction. Here, we provide a framework to help infer how a stoichiometric imbalance observed at one level impacts all other biological levels. Our framework enables us to highlight the areas of the theory in need of completion, development and integration at all biological levels. Our hope is that this framework will contribute to the building of a more predictive theory of elemental transfers within the biosphere, and thus, to a better understanding of human-induced perturbations to the global biogeochemical cycles.
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