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Aquatic ecology

Phosphorus, the staff of life

Nature volume 406, pages 31–33 (2000)Cite this article

Studies of lakes in North America reveal that concentrations of phosphate, an essential nutrient for aquatic microorganisms, are 100-1,000 times lower than estimated with conventional techniques. Among the implications are the possible need to rethink nutrient dynamics in both freshwater and marine ecosystems..

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, 96822, Hawaii, USA

    David M. Karl

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  1. David M. Karl
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Correspondence to David M. Karl.

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Karl, D. Phosphorus, the staff of life. Nature 406, 31–33 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35017683

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