dela Paz, Erica Silk P.Erica Silk P.dela PazOkuda, NoboruNoboruOkudaPEI-CHI HOLin, Fan SianFan SianLinCHIH-HAO HSIEHLai, Chao ChenChao ChenLaiFujibayash, MegumuMegumuFujibayashShiah, Fuh KwoFuh KwoShiahCHIA-YING KO2024-04-222024-04-222024-02-2200465070https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/641991Nutrient subsidy of methane-oxidising bacteria (MOB), an alternative basal resource, to plankton communities through pelagic-benthic coupling is expected to alter carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios and biomass of zooplankton, and affect biological processes in aquatic food webs. Previous studies indicate that most MOB nutrient subsidies to zooplankton are focused largely on C subsidies; nevertheless, considering that N is important to zooplankton and phytoplankton growth, a better understanding of MOB N subsidies to plankton communities is needed. We examined changes in nutrients, phytoplankton mass-specific productivity, MOB reliance, C/N ratios and biomass of zooplankton between summer stratification and winter mixing periods based on in situ investigation in a subtropical deep oligotrophic freshwater ecosystem during 2010–2014. The results revealed that with increasing reliance on MOB during the winter mixing period, zooplankton C/N ratios decreased and had a significantly nonlinearly inverse relationship with zooplankton biomass. The negative relationship between zooplankton biomass and phytoplankton mass-specific productivity was further observed in synchronous time. The profundal MOB enhanced pelagic-profundal coupling and served as an alternative N support for pelagic plankton food webs during the winter and/or less productive seasons, adding to greater understanding of the role of methanotrophs in aquatic food webs.enfreshwater | methane-oxidising bacteria | nutrient subsidy | phytoplankton | zooplankton[SDGs]SDG6[SDGs]SDG13[SDGs]SDG14[SDGs]SDG15journal article10.1111/fwb.142382-s2.0-85189629931https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85189629931