Transfer of essential substances from phytoplankton to zooplankton in freshwater ecosystems (Review)
I. Yu. FENIOVA1, E. G. SAKHAROVA2, A. V. KRYLOV2
1Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
2Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, Russia
Keywords: efficiency of transfer of essential substances, polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, nitrogen, and phosphorus
Abstract
In freshwater ecosystems, the efficiency of transfer of essential substances from phytoplankton to zooplankton, measured as the ratio of the production of these substances in zooplankton to their production in phytoplankton, determines the functioning of higher trophic levels. In addition to carbon, primary producers transfer essential substances up the trophic chain, including polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P). The transfer efficiency of these substances varies greatly in nature depending on environmental factors, thus affecting the quality of biological resources. The goal of this review was to analyze mechanisms regulating the efficiency of transfer of essential substances from phytoplankton to zooplankton and to establish the main factors that may have impact on the efficiency of their transfer.
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