Pelagic nutrient cycles : herbivores as sources and sinks

The book elucidates the interactions between pelagic food web processes and element cycling in lakes in terms of classical concepts from the ecological theory of prey-predator systems. Special emphasis is given to exploring how stoichiometric relationships between primary producers and herbivores influence the stability and persistence of planktonic food webs. Simple dynamic models of the cycling of mineral nutrients through plankton algae and grazers are developed, parameterized, and explored both analytically and numerically. The results are of great interest to both theoretical and experimental ecologists. Moreover, the models are of practical use to lake management.