Nitrogen fixation and denitrification activity differ between coral- and algae-dominated Red Sea reefs.

ABSTRACT: Coral reefs experience phase shifts from coral- to algae-dominated benthic communities, which could affect the interplay between processes introducing and removing bioavailable nitrogen. However, the magnitude of such processes, i.e., dinitrogen (N₂) fixation and denitrification levels, and their responses to phase shifts remain unknown in coral reefs. We assessed both processes for the dominant species of six benthic categories (hard corals, soft corals, turf algae, coral rubble, biogenic rock, and reef sands) accounting for > 98% of the benthic cover of a central Red Sea coral reef. Rates were extrapolated to the relative benthic cover of the studied organisms in co-occurring coral- and algae-dominated areas of the same reef. In general, benthic categories with high N₂

SUBMITTER: El-Khaled YC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8175748 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature