Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41795800›Full record

ArticleEcology letters2026

Anaemic Streams: Iron and Essential Trace Metals Frequently Limit Primary Producer Biomass.

David M Costello, Olufemi J Akinnifesi, Renn C Schipper, Paisley Kostick, Jordyn T Stoll, Scott D Tiegs, Amy M Marcarelli, Sally A Entrekin, Raven L Bier, Krista A Capps and 1 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Ecology letters, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

David M CostelloDepartment of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1532-5399
Olufemi J AkinnifesiDepartment of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA.
Renn C SchipperDepartment of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA.
Paisley KostickDepartment of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA.
Jordyn T StollDepartment of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA.
Scott D TiegsDepartment of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA.
Amy M MarcarelliDepartment of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4175-9211
Sally A EntrekinDepartment of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
Raven L BierSavannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, USA.
Krista A CappsSavannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9911-8644
Dean E FletcherSavannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, USA.

Funding

Division of Environmental Biology 1943182National Nuclear Security Administration DE-EM0005228
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Metals are essential for microbial metabolism, yet their role as limiting nutrients in freshwater streams remains poorly understood. We quantified the prevalence of metal and nutrient (co-)limitation of primary producers in 41 streams. Metal limitation was widespread with Fe limitation eliciting the strongest and most consistent biomass responses (50% of streams). Zn limitation was also common (33% of streams), marking the first evidence of Zn-limited stream biofilms at this spatial scale. Metals were often co-limiting with N and P, highlighting interactions between macro- and micronutrients. Diatoms were more responsive to Zn and cyanobacteria reached higher biomass with N and P enrichment, emphasizing divergent nutrient responses among taxa. Predictive modelling indicated that Fe and Zn limitation could be forecasted from environmental variables related to macronutrient supply. These findings challenge the long-standing assumption that stream primary producers are rarely metal-limited and suggest that trace metals may play an underappreciated role in regulating stream productivity, community composition and nutrient cycling.

Indexed as

BiomassCyanobacteriaDiatomsIronRiversTrace ElementsBiofilmsNitrogenPhosphorusZincIronNitrogenPhosphorusTrace ElementsZincbiofilmco‐limitationmetalsnitrogen limitationphosphorus limitationzinc

Identifiers

PMID41795800
PMCPMC12967749

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.