Drivers of the dynamics of diazotrophs and denitrifiers in North Sea bottom waters and sediments.

ABSTRACT: The fixation of dinitrogen (N2) and denitrification are two opposite processes in the nitrogen cycle. The former transfers atmospheric dinitrogen gas into bound nitrogen in the biosphere, while the latter returns this bound nitrogen back to atmospheric dinitrogen. It is unclear whether or not these processes are intimately connected in any microbial ecosystem or that they are spatially and/or temporally separated. Here, we measured seafloor nitrogen fixation and denitrification as well as pelagic nitrogen fixation by using the stable isotope technique. Alongside, we measured the diversity, abundance, and activity of nitrogen-fixing and denitrifying microorganisms at three stations in the southern North Sea. Nitrogen fixation ranged from undetectable to 2.4 nmol N L(-1) d(-1) and from undet

SUBMITTER: Fan H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4508842 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature