Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Primary Production01:06

Primary Production

25.8K
The total amount of energy acquired by primary producers in an ecosystem is called gross primary production (GPP). However, of this energy, producers use some for metabolic processes, and some is lost as heat, decreasing the amount of energy available to the next trophic level. The remaining usable amount of energy is called the net primary productivity (NPP). In terrestrial ecosystems, NPP is driven by climate, while light penetration and nutrient availability drive NPP in aquatic ecosystems.
25.8K
Production Efficiency01:01

Production Efficiency

18.9K
Net production efficiency (NPE) is the efficiency at which organisms assimilate energy into biomass for the next trophic level. Due to low metabolic rates and less energy spent on thermoregulatory processes, the NPE of ectotherms (cold-blooded animals) is 10 times higher than endotherms (warm-blooded animals).
18.9K
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation01:22

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation

680
Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme...
680
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs01:15

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

1.0K
Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.
1.0K
The Nitrogen Cycle01:49

The Nitrogen Cycle

61.0K
Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
61.0K
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

11.9K
Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of  ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or  nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
11.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Effects of mango-maize and mango-cassava agroforestry systems on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities and soil properties in Southern Ethiopia.

Mycorrhiza·2026
Same author

Refining Niche Metric Calculations: A Modified Weighting Approach to Colwell and Futuyma's Method.

Bulletin of mathematical biology·2026
Same author

Tree community resource economics control soil food web multifunctionality.

Nature·2026
Same author

Relationships between canopy surface temperature measured from drones and below-canopy forest microclimate in a tree diversity experiment.

International journal of biometeorology·2026
Same author

Planting food forests can increase soil biodiversity in agricultural landscapes of Northwest Europe.

npj biodiversity·2026
Same author

Contrasting thermophilization among forests, grasslands and alpine summits.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Daily briefing: 'Cyborg' cockroaches breathe underwater with printed suit.

Nature·2026
Same journal

China boosts prestigious grants for young scientists - will it ease competition?

Nature·2026
Same journal

Incoming US science academy chief vows to 'double down' on research.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Author Correction: Synthesis of enantioenriched atropisomers by biocatalytic deracemization.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Electrodeposited self-assembled molecules for perovskite photovoltaics.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Neutrino's nursery found: the 'Shadow Blaster'.

Nature·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Author Spotlight: Understanding Riverine Nitrogen Impacts and Primary Productivity for Effective Nutrient Management
05:04

Author Spotlight: Understanding Riverine Nitrogen Impacts and Primary Productivity for Effective Nutrient Management

Published on: July 14, 2023

815

Nitrogen saturation and net ecosystem production.

An De Schrijver1, Kris Verheyen, Jan Mertens

  • 1Laboratory of Forestry, Ghent University, Geraardsbergse Steenweg 267, 9090 Gontrode, Belgium. An.Deschrijver@Ugent.be

Nature
|February 15, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Forests sequester carbon due to nitrogen deposition, with no signs of nitrogen saturation observed. However, net ecosystem production is not a reliable indicator of nitrogen saturation.

More Related Videos

A Low-Cost Method of Measuring the In Situ Primary Productivity of Periphyton Communities of Lentic Waters
06:02

A Low-Cost Method of Measuring the In Situ Primary Productivity of Periphyton Communities of Lentic Waters

Published on: December 16, 2022

2.4K
The Benthic Exchange of O2, N2 and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations
10:11

The Benthic Exchange of O2, N2 and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations

Published on: August 3, 2016

10.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Author Spotlight: Understanding Riverine Nitrogen Impacts and Primary Productivity for Effective Nutrient Management
05:04

Author Spotlight: Understanding Riverine Nitrogen Impacts and Primary Productivity for Effective Nutrient Management

Published on: July 14, 2023

815
A Low-Cost Method of Measuring the In Situ Primary Productivity of Periphyton Communities of Lentic Waters
06:02

A Low-Cost Method of Measuring the In Situ Primary Productivity of Periphyton Communities of Lentic Waters

Published on: December 16, 2022

2.4K
The Benthic Exchange of O2, N2 and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations
10:11

The Benthic Exchange of O2, N2 and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations

Published on: August 3, 2016

10.5K

Area of Science:

  • Forest Ecology
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Net carbon sequestration in temperate and boreal forests is significantly influenced by nitrogen deposition.
  • Previous studies suggested a potential risk of widespread ecosystem nitrogen saturation due to increased nitrogen inputs.

Discussion:

  • The study by Magnani et al. indicates a positive correlation between net ecosystem production (NEP) and wet nitrogen deposition.
  • This relationship suggests that nitrogen availability, rather than saturation, is a key driver of carbon sequestration in the studied forest ecosystems.
  • The findings challenge the notion of widespread nitrogen saturation, indicating that forests may still be responsive to nitrogen additions.

Key Insights:

  • Net carbon sequestration in forests is primarily driven by nitrogen deposition.
  • No evidence of nitrogen saturation was found in the examined temperate and boreal forests.
  • Net ecosystem production is not a suitable indicator for assessing ecosystem nitrogen saturation.

Outlook:

  • Further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of nitrogen deposition on forest carbon cycling.
  • Investigating alternative indicators for nitrogen saturation is crucial for accurate ecosystem monitoring.
  • Understanding these dynamics is vital for predicting forest responses to climate change and anthropogenic nitrogen inputs.