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Positive feedback in aquatic ecosystems: The case of the microbial loop

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Abstract

The description of the “microbial loop” has led to some major changes in our understanding of nutrient cycling within aquatic ecosystems. It now appears that in many settings it is not uncommon for some 50% of phytoplankton production to be diverted into microbial pathways rather than passing up to higher trophic levels. As a result the microbial loop is responsible for enhanced and rapid nutrient cycling at the very base of the food web. Since tight recycling is often associated with unstable positive feedback, we use a model to examine the possible repercussions in more detail. The model simulates the dynamics of the microbial loop and finds it to greatly affect the way in which aquatic primary production responds to nutrient pulses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Yigal Allon Kinneret Limnological Laboratory, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, P.O.B. 345, 14102, Tiberias, Israel

    Tom Berman

  2. Deparmtent of Environment Sciences and Energy Research, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100, Rehovot, Israel

    Lewi Stone

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  1. Lewi Stone
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Stone, L., Berman, T. Positive feedback in aquatic ecosystems: The case of the microbial loop. Bltn Mathcal Biology 55, 919–936 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02460692

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