Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability
Oceanic fixed-nitrogen concentrations are controlled by the balance between nitrogen fixation and denitrification. A number of factors, including iron limitation, can restrict nitrogen fixation, introducing the potential for decoupling of nitrogen inputs and losses. Such decoupling could significant...
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ftunivessex:oai:repository.essex.ac.uk:331 2023-05-15T17:25:26+02:00 Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability Mark Moore, C Mills, Matthew M Achterberg, Eric P Geider, Richard J LaRoche, Julie Lucas, Mike I McDonagh, Elaine L Pan, Xi Poulton, Alex J Rijkenberg, Micha JA Suggett, David J Ussher, Simon J Woodward, E Malcolm S 2009-12 http://repository.essex.ac.uk/331/ unknown Springer Science and Business Media LLC Mark Moore, C and Mills, Matthew M and Achterberg, Eric P and Geider, Richard J and LaRoche, Julie and Lucas, Mike I and McDonagh, Elaine L and Pan, Xi and Poulton, Alex J and Rijkenberg, Micha JA and Suggett, David J and Ussher, Simon J and Woodward, E Malcolm S (2009) 'Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability.' Nature Geoscience, 2 (12). pp. 867-871. ISSN 1752-0894 GC Oceanography QH301 Biology Article PeerReviewed 2009 ftunivessex 2022-08-18T22:38:47Z Oceanic fixed-nitrogen concentrations are controlled by the balance between nitrogen fixation and denitrification. A number of factors, including iron limitation, can restrict nitrogen fixation, introducing the potential for decoupling of nitrogen inputs and losses. 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 dioxide. 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 fixation, and that subsequent interactions with ocean circulation patterns contribute to the decoupling of nitrogen fixation and loss. © 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic Deep Water North Atlantic South Atlantic Ocean University of Essex Research Repository |
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University of Essex Research Repository |
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ftunivessex |
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topic |
GC Oceanography QH301 Biology |
spellingShingle |
GC Oceanography QH301 Biology Mark Moore, C Mills, Matthew M Achterberg, Eric P Geider, Richard J LaRoche, Julie Lucas, Mike I McDonagh, Elaine L Pan, Xi Poulton, Alex J Rijkenberg, Micha JA Suggett, David J Ussher, Simon J Woodward, E Malcolm S Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability |
topic_facet |
GC Oceanography QH301 Biology |
description |
Oceanic fixed-nitrogen concentrations are controlled by the balance between nitrogen fixation and denitrification. A number of factors, including iron limitation, can restrict nitrogen fixation, introducing the potential for decoupling of nitrogen inputs and losses. 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 dioxide. 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 fixation, and that subsequent interactions with ocean circulation patterns contribute to the decoupling of nitrogen fixation and loss. © 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Mark Moore, C Mills, Matthew M Achterberg, Eric P Geider, Richard J LaRoche, Julie Lucas, Mike I McDonagh, Elaine L Pan, Xi Poulton, Alex J Rijkenberg, Micha JA Suggett, David J Ussher, Simon J Woodward, E Malcolm S |
author_facet |
Mark Moore, C Mills, Matthew M Achterberg, Eric P Geider, Richard J LaRoche, Julie Lucas, Mike I McDonagh, Elaine L Pan, Xi Poulton, Alex J Rijkenberg, Micha JA Suggett, David J Ussher, Simon J Woodward, E Malcolm S |
author_sort |
Mark Moore, C |
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 |
publisher |
Springer Science and Business Media LLC |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
http://repository.essex.ac.uk/331/ |
genre |
North Atlantic Deep Water North Atlantic South Atlantic Ocean |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic Deep Water North Atlantic South Atlantic Ocean |
op_relation |
Mark Moore, C and Mills, Matthew M and Achterberg, Eric P and Geider, Richard J and LaRoche, Julie and Lucas, Mike I and McDonagh, Elaine L and Pan, Xi and Poulton, Alex J and Rijkenberg, Micha JA and Suggett, David J and Ussher, Simon J and Woodward, E Malcolm S (2009) 'Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability.' Nature Geoscience, 2 (12). pp. 867-871. ISSN 1752-0894 |
_version_ |
1766116854645915648 |