Revisiting the growth rate hypothesis: Towards a holistic stoichiometric understanding of growth.

ABSTRACT: The growth rate hypothesis (GRH) posits that variation in organismal stoichiometry (C:P and N:P ratios) is driven by growth-dependent allocation of P to ribosomal RNA. The GRH has found broad but not uniform support in studies across diverse biota and habitats. We synthesise information on how and why the tripartite growth-RNA-P relationship predicted by the GRH may be uncoupled and outline paths for both theoretical and empirical work needed to broaden the working domain of the GRH. We found strong support for growth to RNA (r²  = 0.59) and RNA-P to P (r²  = 0.63) relationships across taxa, but growth to P relationships were relatively weaker (r²  = 0.09). Together, the GRH was supported in ~50% of studies. Mechanisms behind GRH uncoupling were diverse but

SUBMITTER: Isanta-Navarro J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9595043 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature