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Related Concept Videos

The Nitrogen Cycle01:49

The Nitrogen Cycle

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...
Microbes and the Nitrogen Cycle01:26

Microbes and the Nitrogen Cycle

The nitrogen cycle is a complex biogeochemical process critical to maintaining the balance of nitrogenous compounds in ecosystems. This cycle involves multiple microbial-mediated transformations through which nitrogen changes oxidation states, supporting essential ecological functions and contributing to plant and microbial growth.Nitrogen Fixation and AmmonificationNitrogen fixation initiates the cycle by converting inert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into bioavailable ammonia (NH₃), a process...
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation01:22

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation

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 nitrate reductase...
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

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 nitrogen...
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs01:15

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

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. However, because inorganic electron donors...
Oxygenic Photosynthesis01:26

Oxygenic Photosynthesis

Oxygenic photosynthesis is a fundamental process in which light energy is harnessed to drive the oxidation of water, leading to the production of molecular oxygen (O₂), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). This process is essential for sustaining aerobic life on Earth and is primarily carried out by cyanobacteria, algae, and plants. The core of oxygenic photosynthesis lies in the thylakoid membranes, where chlorophyll pigments facilitate light...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

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

Revising the nitrogen cycle in the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone.

Phyllis Lam1, Gaute Lavik, Marlene M Jensen

  • 1Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, D-28359 Bremen, Germany. plam@mpi-bremen.de

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|March 4, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Anammox, not denitrification, dominates nitrogen loss in the Eastern Tropical South Pacific oxygen minimum zone. This process relies on nitrate reduction and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium, impacting future ocean nitrogen cycling models.

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Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors
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Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors

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Published on: August 3, 2016

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
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Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors
07:59

Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors

Published on: December 6, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Marine microbial ecology
  • Biogeochemical cycling
  • Oceanography

Background:

  • The Eastern Tropical South Pacific oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) is a key site for oceanic nitrogen loss.
  • Anammox is now considered the primary nitrogen loss pathway, challenging previous assumptions about denitrification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the sources of nitrite and ammonium sustaining anammox in the ETSP OMZ.
  • To quantify the contribution of different nitrogen transformation pathways to overall nitrogen loss.

Main Methods:

  • Stable-isotope pairing experiments to trace nitrogen transformations.
  • Functional gene expression analyses to identify active microbial processes.
  • Measurement of nitrogen species concentrations and isotopic signatures.

Main Results:

  • Anammox primarily utilizes nitrite derived from nitrate reduction (≥67%), with a smaller contribution from aerobic ammonia oxidation (≤33%).
  • Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium was prevalent throughout the OMZ, supplying significant ammonium for anammox.
  • Nitrate reduction and microaerobic respiration also contribute to ammonium supply.
  • Nitrate reduction accounts for only ~50% of total nitrogen loss, contrary to prior assumptions.

Conclusions:

  • Nitrate reduction pathways are critical for sustaining anammox and ammonium regeneration in the ETSP OMZ.
  • Current understanding of nitrogen cycling in OMZs needs revision to include these pathways.
  • Accurate modeling of future ocean nitrogen cycles requires incorporating these findings, especially as OMZs expand due to climate change.