Food sources drive temporal variation in elemental stoichiometry of benthic consumers

Benthic fauna plays an important role in mediating biogeochemical cycles coastal areas by storing carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) their body tissues at theoretically homeostatic rates. To maintain homeostasis, the benthic consumers need to be balance with resource supply or alter stoichiometric traits response environmental change. However, we lack understanding regarding potential variation C : N P content ratios of consumers, especially marine where shifts macrofauna could have strong effects on sediment nutrient cycling. By monitoring two sites over a year, quantified magnitude temporal stability faunal pools soft-sediment habitats. Our results show that is not strictly homeostatic, but instead expresses content. These aquatic undergo ontogenetic changes diet morphology, which characteristics. In addition, showed seasonal both species community level, our suggest shift food sources conditions. The ability adapt varying conditions essential face growing imbalance occurring ecosystems as consequence anthropogenic activities. Therefore, it critically identify plasticity different species, before change causes composition will functions ecosystem level.