Unveiling the contribution of particle-associated non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs to N₂ fixation in the upper mesopelagic North Pacific Gyre.

ABSTRACT: Dinitrogen (N₂) fixation supports marine life through the supply of reactive nitrogen. Recent studies suggest that particle-associated non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs (NCDs) could contribute significantly to N₂ fixation contrary to the paradigm of diazotrophy as primarily driven by cyanobacterial genera. We examine the community composition of NCDs associated with suspended, slow, and fast-sinking particles in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Suspended and slow-sinking particles showed a higher abundance of cyanobacterial diazotrophs than fast-sinking particles, while fast-sinking particles showed a higher diversity of NCDs including Marinobacter, Oceanobacter and Pseudomonas. Using single-cell mass spectrometry we find that Gammaproteobacteria N₂ fixatio

SUBMITTER: Reeder CF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11846875 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature