Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability
Oceanic fixed-nitrogen concentrations are controlled by the balance between nitrogen fixation and denitrification1, 2, 3, 4. A number of factors, including iron limitation5, 6, 7, can restrict nitrogen fixation, introducing the potential for decoupling of nitrogen inputs and losses2, 5, 8. Such deco...
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ftsouthampton:oai:eprints.soton.ac.uk:71613 2023-08-27T04:10:41+02:00 Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability Moore, C. Mark Mills, Matthew M. Achterberg, Eric P. Geider, Richard J. LaRoche, Julie Lucas, Mike I. McDonagh, Elaine L. Pan, Xi Poulton, Alex J. Rijkenberg, Micha J.A. Suggett, David J. Ussher, Simon J. Woodward, E. Malcolm S. 2009-11-01 https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/71613/ http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/v2/n12/pdf/ngeo667.pdf unknown Moore, C. Mark, Mills, Matthew M., Achterberg, Eric P., Geider, Richard J., LaRoche, Julie, Lucas, Mike I., McDonagh, Elaine L., Pan, Xi, Poulton, Alex J., Rijkenberg, Micha J.A., Suggett, David J., Ussher, Simon J. and Woodward, E. Malcolm S. (2009) Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability. Nature Geoscience, 2 (12), 867-871. (doi:10.1038/NGEO667 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/NGEO667>). Article PeerReviewed 2009 ftsouthampton https://doi.org/10.1038/NGEO667 2023-08-03T22:19:22Z Oceanic fixed-nitrogen concentrations are controlled by the balance between nitrogen fixation and denitrification1, 2, 3, 4. A number of factors, including iron limitation5, 6, 7, can restrict nitrogen fixation, introducing the potential for decoupling of nitrogen inputs and losses2, 5, 8. Such decoupling could significantly affect the oceanic fixed-nitrogen inventory and consequently the biological component of ocean carbon storage and hence air–sea partitioning of carbon dioxide2, 5, 8, 9. However, the extent to which nutrients limit nitrogen fixation in the global ocean is uncertain. Here, we examined rates of nitrogen fixation and nutrient concentrations in the surface waters of the Atlantic Ocean along a north–south 10,000 km transect during October and November 2005. We show that rates of nitrogen fixation were markedly higher in the North Atlantic compared with the South Atlantic Ocean. Across the two basins, nitrogen fixation was positively correlated with dissolved iron and negatively correlated with dissolved phosphorus concentrations. We conclude that inter-basin differences in nitrogen fixation are controlled by iron supply rather than phosphorus availability. Analysis of the nutrient content of deep waters suggests that the fixed nitrogen enters North Atlantic Deep Water. Our study thus supports the suggestion that iron significantly influences nitrogen fixation5, and that subsequent interactions with ocean circulation patterns contribute to the decoupling of nitrogen fixation and loss2, 4, 8. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic Deep Water North Atlantic South Atlantic Ocean University of Southampton: e-Prints Soton Nature Geoscience 2 12 867 871 |
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University of Southampton: e-Prints Soton |
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ftsouthampton |
language |
unknown |
description |
Oceanic fixed-nitrogen concentrations are controlled by the balance between nitrogen fixation and denitrification1, 2, 3, 4. A number of factors, including iron limitation5, 6, 7, can restrict nitrogen fixation, introducing the potential for decoupling of nitrogen inputs and losses2, 5, 8. Such decoupling could significantly affect the oceanic fixed-nitrogen inventory and consequently the biological component of ocean carbon storage and hence air–sea partitioning of carbon dioxide2, 5, 8, 9. However, the extent to which nutrients limit nitrogen fixation in the global ocean is uncertain. Here, we examined rates of nitrogen fixation and nutrient concentrations in the surface waters of the Atlantic Ocean along a north–south 10,000 km transect during October and November 2005. We show that rates of nitrogen fixation were markedly higher in the North Atlantic compared with the South Atlantic Ocean. Across the two basins, nitrogen fixation was positively correlated with dissolved iron and negatively correlated with dissolved phosphorus concentrations. We conclude that inter-basin differences in nitrogen fixation are controlled by iron supply rather than phosphorus availability. Analysis of the nutrient content of deep waters suggests that the fixed nitrogen enters North Atlantic Deep Water. Our study thus supports the suggestion that iron significantly influences nitrogen fixation5, and that subsequent interactions with ocean circulation patterns contribute to the decoupling of nitrogen fixation and loss2, 4, 8. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Moore, C. Mark Mills, Matthew M. Achterberg, Eric P. Geider, Richard J. LaRoche, Julie Lucas, Mike I. McDonagh, Elaine L. Pan, Xi Poulton, Alex J. Rijkenberg, Micha J.A. Suggett, David J. Ussher, Simon J. Woodward, E. Malcolm S. |
spellingShingle |
Moore, C. Mark Mills, Matthew M. Achterberg, Eric P. Geider, Richard J. LaRoche, Julie Lucas, Mike I. McDonagh, Elaine L. Pan, Xi Poulton, Alex J. Rijkenberg, Micha J.A. Suggett, David J. Ussher, Simon J. Woodward, E. Malcolm S. Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability |
author_facet |
Moore, C. Mark Mills, Matthew M. Achterberg, Eric P. Geider, Richard J. LaRoche, Julie Lucas, Mike I. McDonagh, Elaine L. Pan, Xi Poulton, Alex J. Rijkenberg, Micha J.A. Suggett, David J. Ussher, Simon J. Woodward, E. Malcolm S. |
author_sort |
Moore, C. Mark |
title |
Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability |
title_short |
Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability |
title_full |
Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability |
title_fullStr |
Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability |
title_full_unstemmed |
Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability |
title_sort |
large-scale distribution of atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/71613/ http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/v2/n12/pdf/ngeo667.pdf |
genre |
North Atlantic Deep Water North Atlantic South Atlantic Ocean |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic Deep Water North Atlantic South Atlantic Ocean |
op_relation |
Moore, C. Mark, Mills, Matthew M., Achterberg, Eric P., Geider, Richard J., LaRoche, Julie, Lucas, Mike I., McDonagh, Elaine L., Pan, Xi, Poulton, Alex J., Rijkenberg, Micha J.A., Suggett, David J., Ussher, Simon J. and Woodward, E. Malcolm S. (2009) Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability. Nature Geoscience, 2 (12), 867-871. (doi:10.1038/NGEO667 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/NGEO667>). |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/NGEO667 |
container_title |
Nature Geoscience |
container_volume |
2 |
container_issue |
12 |
container_start_page |
867 |
op_container_end_page |
871 |
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1775352926938595328 |