Ecological dynamics explain modular denitrification in the ocean.

ABSTRACT: Microorganisms in marine oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) drive globally impactful biogeochemical processes. One such process is multistep denitrification (NO₃^-→NO₂^-→NO→N₂O→N₂), which dominates OMZ bioavailable nitrogen (N) loss and nitrous oxide (N₂O) production. Denitrification-derived N loss is typically measured and modeled as a single step, but observations reveal that most denitrifiers in OMZs contain subsets ("modules") of the complete pathway. Here, we identify the ecological mechanisms sustaining diverse denitrifiers, explain the prevalence of certain modules, and examine the implications for N loss. We describe microbial functional types carrying out diverse denitrification modules by their underlying redox c

SUBMITTER: Sun X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11670096 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature