Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation

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...

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

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...

The Nitrogen Cycle

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...

Overview of Metabolism

Overview of Metabolism

Living cells constantly carry out various chemical reactions which are necessary for their proper functioning. These reactions are interlinked to one another via multiple pathways. The collection of these chemical reactions is known as metabolism.
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...

Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns

Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns

Microorganisms exhibit diverse oxygen requirements and growth patterns driven by their metabolic strategies and environmental adaptations. Oxygen, while essential for many organisms, can also be toxic under certain conditions, shaping how microorganisms grow and survive.Oxygen Requirements of MicroorganismsMicroorganisms are classified based on their ability to use or tolerate oxygen:● Obligate aerobes like Mycobacterium tuberculosis need oxygen for energy production, as it serves as the...

Key Elements for Plant Nutrition

Key Elements for Plant Nutrition

Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

The global spectrum of plant form and function: enhanced species-level trait dataset.

Scientific data·2022

Same author

Evidence, causes, and consequences of declining nitrogen availability in terrestrial ecosystems.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2022

Same author

Climatic and soil factors explain the two-dimensional spectrum of global plant trait variation.

Nature ecology & evolution·2021

Same author

Mischaracterization of bison migratory patterns in Yellowstone National Park: Consequences for the Green Wave Hypothesis.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2020

Same author

Global plant trait relationships extend to the climatic extremes of the tundra biome.

Nature communications·2020

Same author

TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access.

Global change biology·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Workflow Based on the Combination of Isotopic Tracer Experiments to Investigate Microbial Metabolism of Multiple Nutrient Sources

Workflow Based on the Combination of Isotopic Tracer Experiments to Investigate Microbial Metabolism of Multiple Nutrient Sources

Published on: January 22, 2018

Looking back in time to reconstruct nitrogen availability trajectories.

Joseph M Craine¹

¹Jonah Ventures, Boulder, CO, USA.

Global Change Biology

|June 13, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Northern Great Plains ecosystems show increased productivity but decreased nitrogen availability, indicating a global shift in the nitrogen cycle. This challenges our understanding of terrestrial biosphere responses to environmental changes.

More Related Videos

Microplot Design and Plant and Soil Sample Preparation for 15Nitrogen Analysis

Microplot Design and Plant and Soil Sample Preparation for 15Nitrogen Analysis

Published on: May 10, 2020

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

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

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Workflow Based on the Combination of Isotopic Tracer Experiments to Investigate Microbial Metabolism of Multiple Nutrient Sources

Workflow Based on the Combination of Isotopic Tracer Experiments to Investigate Microbial Metabolism of Multiple Nutrient Sources

Published on: January 22, 2018

Microplot Design and Plant and Soil Sample Preparation for 15Nitrogen Analysis

Microplot Design and Plant and Soil Sample Preparation for 15Nitrogen Analysis

Published on: May 10, 2020

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

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

Area of Science:

Ecology
Global Change Biology
Biogeochemistry

Background:

The Northern Great Plains are a critical ecosystem for understanding global environmental changes.
Previous studies have indicated complex responses of terrestrial ecosystems to changing climate and nutrient availability.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze satellite-based reconstructions of greenness and foliar nutrition in the Northern Great Plains.
To investigate the implications of these findings for the global nitrogen cycle.

Main Methods:

Utilized satellite-based data for greenness reconstructions.
Analyzed foliar nutrition and isotopic composition from herbarium samples.
Interpreted findings in the context of the global nitrogen (N) cycle.

Main Results:

Observed greater ecosystem productivity in the Northern Great Plains.
Found evidence of reduced nitrogen (N) availability concurrent with increased productivity.
Identified these findings as part of a broader inflection in understanding the global N cycle.

Conclusions:

The terrestrial biosphere, including the Northern Great Plains, may be experiencing widespread reductions in nitrogen availability.
This suggests a significant shift in the global nitrogen cycle with potential implications for ecosystem function and services.