Citation
Biogeochemistry: An Analysis of Global Change
TL;DR
Nutrient cycles are interconnected and disruption to one affects others
This comprehensive textbook provides the scientific foundation for understanding carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water cycles at ecosystem and global scales. It establishes the baseline understanding of how nutrients move through natural systems - essential knowledge for anyone designing circular systems that aim to mimic biological nutrient cycling.
The third edition integrates climate change impacts with biogeochemical cycles, showing how human disruptions cascade through interconnected systems. For business applications, this provides the scientific grounding for circular economy principles.
Key Findings from Schlesinger & Bernhardt (2013)
- Nutrient cycles are interconnected and disruption to one affects others
- Ecosystems achieve near-closed nutrient cycling through multiple retention mechanisms
- Decomposition rates depend on chemical composition, environmental conditions, and nutrient content
- Stoichiometric constraints limit growth when nutrients are out of balance