Abundances and distributions of the dominant nifH phylotypes in the Northern Atlantic Ocean.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the factors that influence the distribution and abundance of marine diazotrophs is important in order to assess their role in the oceanic nitrogen cycle. Environmental DNA samples from four cruises to the North Atlantic Ocean, covering a sampling area of 0 degrees N to 42 degrees N and 67 degrees W to 13 degrees W, were analyzed for the presence and amount of seven nifH phylotypes using real-time quantitative PCR and TaqMan probes. The cyanobacterial phylotypes dominated in abundance (94% of all nifH copies detected) and were the most widely distributed. The filamentous cyanobacterial type, which included both Trichodesmium and Katagnymene, was the most abundant (51%), followed by group A, an uncultured unicellular cyanobacterium (33%), and gamma A, an uncultured gammaproteob

SUBMITTER: Langlois RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2268318 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature