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Denitrification as the dominant nitrogen loss process in the Arabian Sea

Author

Listed:
  • B. B. Ward

    (Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA)

  • A. H. Devol

    (University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA)

  • J. J. Rich

    (Center for Environmental Studies, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA)

  • B. X. Chang

    (University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA)

  • S. E. Bulow

    (Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA)

  • Hema Naik

    (National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403004, India)

  • Anil Pratihary

    (National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403004, India)

  • A. Jayakumar

    (Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA)

Abstract

Nitrogen lost at sea Fixed nitrogen availability is the factor limiting primary production in more than half of the world's oceans. Recent reports have shown that anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation), rather than conventional denitrification producing dinitrogen gas (N2), is responsible for all or most of the fixed nitrogen loss in oxygen limited regions of the ocean. Ward et al. demonstrate that denitrification, rather than anammox, dominates the fixed nitrogen loss in the Arabian Sea. In this region denitrifying bacteria are more abundant than anammox bacteria, even when anammox rates are significant. This work addresses a major uncertainty in our understanding of the global nitrogen cycle and the fixed nitrogen inventory, confirming that denitrification is a major process in the overall marine nitrogen cycle.

Suggested Citation

  • B. B. Ward & A. H. Devol & J. J. Rich & B. X. Chang & S. E. Bulow & Hema Naik & Anil Pratihary & A. Jayakumar, 2009. "Denitrification as the dominant nitrogen loss process in the Arabian Sea," Nature, Nature, vol. 461(7260), pages 78-81, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:461:y:2009:i:7260:d:10.1038_nature08276
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08276
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    Cited by:

    1. Sankar, S. & Polimene, L. & Marin, L. & Menon, N.N. & Samuelsen, A. & Pastres, R. & Ciavatta, S., 2018. "Sensitivity of the simulated Oxygen Minimum Zone to biogeochemical processes at an oligotrophic site in the Arabian Sea," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 372(C), pages 12-23.
    2. Han Li & Ying Liu & Jinghong Feng & Defu Liu & Yi Li & Lihui Chen & Jingwen Xiao, 2022. "Influence of the In-Stream Structure on Solute Transport in the Hyporheic Zone," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-18, May.

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