生态化学计量学是研究生态系统C、N、P等元素平衡的科学，为研究生态系统结构和功能的变动机制提供了新的视角。海洋浮游生物体C:N:P比值的变化可以为研究海洋浮游生态系统结构和功能的变动机制提供重要信息。本项目拟以大亚湾为主要研究海域，阐明不同环境梯度下浮游生物主要类群的C:N:P比分布特征，探讨浮游生物体C:N:P比值特征及其与环境因子的关系；并通过室内培养实验研究营养盐结构和浓度对初级生产者的元素比（饵料质量）、进而对次级消费者生长和繁殖的影响，评估环境元素比变化的食物链传递效应，探索水体营养盐结构变化对浮游生物不同功能群C、N、P元素组成的影响规律和作用机制。研究结果为正确评估人类活动干扰导致的近海营养元素比例变动对海洋浮游生态系统影响提供科学依据。

Ecological stoichiometry is a tool of studying the mass balance of multiple chemical elements in living systems and ecological interactions. C:N:P atomic ratios in different planktonic groups may provide important informations for investigating the function of ecosystem. It potentially can help to understand and interpret the effects of changes in nutrient inputs on food web dynamics and the effects of changes in food web structure on internal nutrient cycling. This program is planning to investigate the patterns of C:N:P ratio under different environment, and study the relationships between the C:N:P ratio of pelagic food web compartments and environmental factors. In addition, incubation experiments would be conducted to study different N:P ratio on the community structure and elemental composition of phytoplankton, and the subsequent influence on the growth and reproduction of some dominant zooplankton species. This project intent to reveal the mechanisms of pelagic food web structure and function coupling with elemental balance in the environment. The results should contribute to correctly evaluate the influence of anthropogenic eutrophication and elemental imbalance on marine pelagic ecosystem.