Compare N:P ratios with Redfield ratios

Compares calculated N:P ratios with the classical Redfield ratio. Useful for understanding deviations from typical oceanic proportions.

Usage

compare_with_redfield(np_ratios)

Arguments

np_ratios

List result from calculate_np_ratios

Value

A data.frame with one row per process and six columns: Process (character), NP_Ratio (numeric), Redfield_Ratio (numeric), Difference (numeric; observed minus Redfield), Relative_Difference (numeric; % deviation from Redfield), and Interpretation (character; one of "N-rich relative to P", "N-poor relative to P", "No P available", or "No flux").

Examples

nitrogen   <- list(consumed = 10, growth = 3, excretion = 5, egestion = 2)
phosphorus <- list(consumed = 1.5, growth = 0.5, excretion = 0.6, egestion = 0.4)
np  <- calculate_np_ratios(nitrogen, phosphorus)
compare_with_redfield(np)
#>             Process NP_Ratio Redfield_Ratio Difference Relative_Difference
#> consumed   consumed 6.666667            7.2 -0.5333333           -7.407407
#> growth       growth 6.000000            7.2 -1.2000000          -16.666667
#> excretion excretion 8.333333            7.2  1.1333333           15.740741
#> egestion   egestion 5.000000            7.2 -2.2000000          -30.555556
#>                 Interpretation
#> consumed  N-poor relative to P
#> growth    N-poor relative to P
#> excretion N-rich relative to P
#> egestion  N-poor relative to P