On nitrogen fixation and preferential remineralization of phosphorus
Regional and global nitrogen fixation rates are often estimated from geochemical tracers related to N* (=NO₃⁻-16PO₄³⁻). However the patterns of this tracer reflect the influence of numerous processes including nitrogen fixation, denitrification, remineralization of organic matter, variable stoichiom...
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| Format: | Article |
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American Geophysical Union (AGU)
2018
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/118313 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3102-0341 |
| _version_ | 1811084416464715776 |
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| author | Monteiro, F. M. Follows, Michael J |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Monteiro, F. M. Follows, Michael J |
| author_sort | Monteiro, F. M. |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Regional and global nitrogen fixation rates are often estimated from geochemical tracers related to N* (=NO₃⁻-16PO₄³⁻). However the patterns of this tracer reflect the influence of numerous processes including nitrogen fixation, denitrification, remineralization of organic matter, variable stoichiometry, atmospheric deposition and physical transport. Here we have used idealized models to illustrate how preferential remineralization of organic phosphorous may explain observed features of N* distribution in the North Atlantic Ocean, including a subsurface maximum and an increased temporal variability in the mid-thermocline. If preferential remineralization of phosphorus is key in shaping the oceanic distribution of N*, published estimates of nitrogen fixation may be underestimating the marine nitrogen fixation rate by as much as a factor of three. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T12:50:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/118313 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T12:50:22Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | American Geophysical Union (AGU) |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1183132022-10-01T11:27:51Z On nitrogen fixation and preferential remineralization of phosphorus Monteiro, F. M. Follows, Michael J Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Follows, Michael J Regional and global nitrogen fixation rates are often estimated from geochemical tracers related to N* (=NO₃⁻-16PO₄³⁻). However the patterns of this tracer reflect the influence of numerous processes including nitrogen fixation, denitrification, remineralization of organic matter, variable stoichiometry, atmospheric deposition and physical transport. Here we have used idealized models to illustrate how preferential remineralization of organic phosphorous may explain observed features of N* distribution in the North Atlantic Ocean, including a subsurface maximum and an increased temporal variability in the mid-thermocline. If preferential remineralization of phosphorus is key in shaping the oceanic distribution of N*, published estimates of nitrogen fixation may be underestimating the marine nitrogen fixation rate by as much as a factor of three. 2018-10-01T16:38:19Z 2018-10-01T16:38:19Z 2012-03 2012-03 2018-09-24T15:38:53Z Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 0094-8276 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/118313 Monteiro, F. M. and M. J. Follows. “On Nitrogen Fixation and Preferential Remineralization of Phosphorus.” Geophysical Research Letters 39, 6 (March 2012): L06607 © 2012 American Geophysical Union https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3102-0341 http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2012GL050897 Geophysical Research Letters Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. application/pdf American Geophysical Union (AGU) Other repository |
| spellingShingle | Monteiro, F. M. Follows, Michael J On nitrogen fixation and preferential remineralization of phosphorus |
| title | On nitrogen fixation and preferential remineralization of phosphorus |
| title_full | On nitrogen fixation and preferential remineralization of phosphorus |
| title_fullStr | On nitrogen fixation and preferential remineralization of phosphorus |
| title_full_unstemmed | On nitrogen fixation and preferential remineralization of phosphorus |
| title_short | On nitrogen fixation and preferential remineralization of phosphorus |
| title_sort | on nitrogen fixation and preferential remineralization of phosphorus |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/118313 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3102-0341 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT monteirofm onnitrogenfixationandpreferentialremineralizationofphosphorus AT followsmichaelj onnitrogenfixationandpreferentialremineralizationofphosphorus |