The Redfield ratio: history, present status, and perspective

Taguchi Satoru

doi:10.5928/kaiyou.25.4_123

<p>The Redfield ratio is widely employed as a biochemical composition in the analysis of marine ecosystems. Here, its history and present status are discussed. The Redfield ratios of inorganic nitrogen to phosphorus in deep oceanic waters are approximately 16:1 and are relatively stable because of the production of nitrogen and phosphorus by weathering and transport to deep oceanic waters over geological time. The ratios in natural assemblages of phytoplankton are believed to be controlled by the oceanic ratios. Originally developed by Dr. Redfield, the theory proposes a ratio of 16:1 for nitrogen and phosphorus and is named the Redfield ratio. The ratio was originally considered to apply over long time scales, such as geological time in the field, and not over short time scales such as in laboratory biological experiments. Therefore, the ratios of inorganic nitrogen to phosphorus should not be directly compared between laboratory experiments on single species or taxa or with respect to observations on marine ecosystems. Rather, the ratios should be carefully considered when the Redfield ratio is utilized as the biochemical composition of the system. Nitrogen fixation is also considered to be one factor that determines the ratios in deep oceanic waters. Assuming that the ratios within existing phytoplankton were preserved for each superfamily of phytoplankton classified by pigment composition, the ratios might be reflected by deep oceanic water where the superfamily occurred. Additional studies of this elemental stoichiometry are one of the key issues in marine biogeochemistry.</p>

The Redfield ratio: history, present status, and perspective

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