A new perspective on nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems

In many lakes and ponds, excess nutrients accumulate, often leading to algal blooms and a decline in water quality. Our new study offers a different approach to understanding how nutrients truly move through ecosystems.

 

Instead of tracking nitrogen or phosphorus alone, we focus on specific biomolecules—‘Rings of Power’—that organisms take in with their food, such as amino acids, lipids, or carbohydrates. These can significantly influence how efficiently animals build their own biomass and how much nutrients they release back into the environment.

 

If organisms have the ‘right molecules’ in their diet, they can use nutrients more efficiently, and less of them leak into the water. This can slow down nutrient cycling and help reduce eutrophication. At the same time, this approach opens up possibilities to manage water quality and aquaculture productivity through food‑web interactions.

You can find the full article here.

Roy, K. & Mraz, J. (2026). The Rings of Power…”