C:N:P ratios of benthic marine plants1

Abstract

The median C:N:P atomic ratio of benthic marine macroalgae and seagrasses is about 550:30:1. Benthic plants are much more depleted in P and less in N, relative to C, than phytoplankton. The amount of nutrients required to support a particular level of net production is much lower for benthic marine plants than it is for phytoplankton.