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The Phosphorus Cycle

The Phosphorus Cycle

Unlike carbon, water, and nitrogen, phosphorus is not present in the atmosphere as a gas. Instead, most phosphorus in the ecosystem exists as compounds, such as phosphate ions (PO43-), found in soil, water, sediment and rocks. Phosphorus is often a limiting nutrient (i.e., in short supply). Consequently, phosphorus is added to most agricultural fertilizers, which can cause environmental problems related to runoff in aquatic ecosystems.

Freshwater Microbial Ecology

Freshwater Microbial Ecology

Freshwater systems such as streams, rivers, and lakes exhibit distinct physical and biological characteristics that influence their microbial communities. These environments are broadly categorized into lotic systems—those with flowing waters like streams and most rivers—and lentic systems, which include still or slow-moving waters such as lakes, ponds, and marshes.In lentic systems, phytoplankton drive primary production, generating autochthonous organic carbon. In contrast, lotic systems...

What are Biogeochemical Cycles?

What are Biogeochemical Cycles?

The most common elements in organic molecules, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, are only available in the ecosystem in limited amounts. Therefore, these nutrients must be recycled through both biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem, in processes generally called biogeochemical cycles.

Microbial Wastewater Treatment

Microbial Wastewater Treatment

Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.

Positive and Negative Feedback Loops

Positive and Negative Feedback Loops

Animal organs and organ systems constantly adjust to internal and external changes through a process called homeostasis ("steady state"). Examples of these changes include regulation of the level of glucose or calcium in the blood or internal responses to external temperatures. Homeostasis requires maintaining an internal dynamic equilibrium:

Primary Production

Primary Production

The total amount of energy acquired by primary producers in an ecosystem is called gross primary production (GPP). However, of this energy, producers use some for metabolic processes, and some is lost as heat, decreasing the amount of energy available to the next trophic level. The remaining usable amount of energy is called the net primary productivity (NPP). In terrestrial ecosystems, NPP is driven by climate, while light penetration and nutrient availability drive NPP in aquatic ecosystems.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading

Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading

Published on: March 6, 2014

Biotic feedbacks in Lake phosphorus cycles.

S R Carpenter¹, K L Cottingham, D E Schindler

¹S.R. Carpenter, K.L. Cottingham and D.E. Schindler are at the Center for Limnology, 680 North Park Street, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

|January 18, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Lake biota significantly influence phosphorus cycles. Zooplankton and fish play key roles in phosphorus storage, recycling, and transport, impacting overall lake ecosystem health and stability.

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Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading

Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading

Published on: March 6, 2014

Measuring Phosphorus Release in Laboratory Microcosms for Water Quality Assessment

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Published on: July 22, 2019

Use of Chironomidae (Diptera) Surface-Floating Pupal Exuviae as a Rapid Bioassessment Protocol for Water Bodies

Use of Chironomidae (Diptera) Surface-Floating Pupal Exuviae as a Rapid Bioassessment Protocol for Water Bodies

Published on: July 24, 2015

Area of Science:

Aquatic ecology
Limnology
Biogeochemistry

Background:

Lake ecosystems are increasingly studied for the role of biota in nutrient cycling.
Changes in aquatic communities can significantly alter ecosystem processes.

Purpose of the Study:

To re-evaluate the influence of lake biota on phosphorus (P) cycles.
To understand how community composition affects nutrient limitation and P dynamics.

Main Methods:

Analysis of seasonal variations in nutrient limitation (nitrogen vs. phosphorus).
Assessment of phosphorus storage and recycling by zooplankton and fish.
Investigation of consumer-mediated P transport within lake ecosystems.

Main Results:

Zooplankton species composition influences the relative importance of nitrogen (N) and P as limiting factors for primary production.
Fish and zooplankton contribute substantially to P budgets through storage and recycling.
Mobile consumers act as significant vectors for P transport in lakes.

Conclusions:

The stability, resilience, and resistance of lake P cycles are strongly influenced by interactions with upper trophic levels.
Biota, particularly mobile consumers, are critical components of lake phosphorus dynamics.