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

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

12.7K
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...
12.7K
The Nitrogen Cycle01:49

The Nitrogen Cycle

61.6K
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...
61.6K
Microbes and Climate Change01:27

Microbes and Climate Change

67
Microorganisms are pivotal agents in Earth's biogeochemical cycles, significantly influencing climate dynamics through their metabolic activities. These microbes modulate the levels of key greenhouse gases by both contributing to and helping mitigate climate change.Microbial Contributions to Greenhouse Gas EmissionsRising global temperatures accelerate microbial metabolism, which, in turn, speeds up the decomposition of organic matter. This process releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) through...
67
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs01:15

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

1.3K
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.
1.3K
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation01:22

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation

888
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...
888
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms01:30

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

1.5K
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
1.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Evaluating combined acupuncture and antiresorptive therapy in Chinese women with postmenopausal osteoporosis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Frontiers in endocrinology·2026
Same author

Attenuated <i>Salmonella</i> Carrying IL-21 Expression Plasmid Enhances the Efficacy of Radiotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Journal of drug targeting·2026
Same author

Plasmonic trimer nanoarrays with probe-trapping sites for SERS detection of urinary copper in Wilson's disease.

The Analyst·2026
Same author

In Situ Synthesis of Rapid Hemostatic Zeolite/Gauze Composites on Pre-Seeded Gauze.

ACS applied bio materials·2026
Same author

Mapping structural variants in Populus tomentosa reveals adaptive signatures and improves prediction of wood properties.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Natural variation in <i>PtoCPK3</i> governs drought tolerance by orchestrating xylem remodeling and lignin metabolism in <i>Populus</i>.

Science advances·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 18, 2026

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

8.8K

Microbial denitrification dominates nitrate losses from forest ecosystems.

Yunting Fang1, Keisuke Koba2, Akiko Makabe3

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110164, China; Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 1838509, Japan;

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|January 22, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Denitrification, a key microbial process, removes significant fixed nitrogen from forests. New isotope methods reveal this nitrogen loss is much higher than previously thought, impacting ecosystem nutrient availability.

Keywords:
denitrificationforested watershedsnitrate isotopesnitrogen cycling

More Related Videos

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
08:05

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

Published on: October 7, 2020

6.8K
Single-throughput Complementary High-resolution Analytical Techniques for Characterizing Complex Natural Organic Matter Mixtures
09:38

Single-throughput Complementary High-resolution Analytical Techniques for Characterizing Complex Natural Organic Matter Mixtures

Published on: January 7, 2019

9.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 18, 2026

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

8.8K
Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
08:05

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

Published on: October 7, 2020

6.8K
Single-throughput Complementary High-resolution Analytical Techniques for Characterizing Complex Natural Organic Matter Mixtures
09:38

Single-throughput Complementary High-resolution Analytical Techniques for Characterizing Complex Natural Organic Matter Mixtures

Published on: January 7, 2019

9.3K

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Soil Science

Background:

  • Denitrification is a critical microbial process that removes fixed nitrogen (N) from ecosystems.
  • Measuring denitrification is challenging due to atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2) and soil heterogeneity.
  • Fixed nitrogen is a key limiting nutrient for terrestrial plant productivity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To accurately measure denitrification rates in forest ecosystems across diverse climates and N deposition regimes.
  • To compare denitrification losses with nitrate (NO3-) leaching.
  • To investigate the impact of anthropogenic nitrogen deposition on denitrification.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized natural abundance of N and oxygen isotopes in nitrate (NO3-).
  • Applied a multiple stable isotope approach across soil to watershed scales.
  • Examined six forest sites in southern China and central Japan.

Main Results:

  • Traditional methods underestimated terrestrial denitrification fluxes by up to 98%.
  • Annual nitrogen losses via denitrification ranged from 5.6-30.1 kg N per hectare.
  • Nitrogen export via denitrification was up to sixfold higher than nitrate leaching.
  • Denitrification losses decreased relative to leaching in high anthropogenic N deposition sites.

Conclusions:

  • Denitrification is a dominant pathway for nitrate removal in diverse forest ecosystems.
  • Terrestrial denitrification fluxes are significantly underestimated by conventional techniques.
  • High anthropogenic nitrogen deposition may alter the balance between denitrification and nitrate leaching.