Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2006

DOI

10.4319/lo.2006.51.4.1762

Publication Title

Limnology and Oceanography

Volume

51

Issue

4

Pages

1762-1776

Abstract

During a 3-yr study in the Gulf of Mexico, we measured dinitrogen (N2) fixation and nitrogen (N) release by Trichodesmium and compared these rates with water column N demand and the estimated N necessary to support blooms of Karenia brevis, a toxic dinoflagellate that severely affects the West Florida shelf. Net and gross N2 fixation rates were compared in simultaneous incubations using 15N2 uptake and acetylene reduction, respectively. The difference between net and gross N2 fixation is assumed to be an approximation of the rate of N release. Results demonstrate that Trichodesmium in the Gulf of Mexico are fixing N2 at high rates and that an average of 52% of this recently fixed N2 is rapidly released. Calculations suggest that observed densities of Trichodesmium can provide enough N to support moderately sized K brevis blooms. Based on other studies where 15N2 and acetylene reduction were compared directly, it appears that N release from Trichodesmium is common but varies in magnitude among environments. In addition, carbon (C) and N-based doubling times for Trichodesmium vary among studies and environments. Comparing gross N2 fixation and C fixation directly, C-based doubling times exceeded N-based doubling times, which suggests an imbalance in elemental turnover or a failure to fully quantify Trichodesmium N use.

Rights

Web of Science: "Free full-text from publisher -- gold open access."

Original Publication Citation

Mulholland, M. R., Bernhardt, P. W., Heil, C. A., Bronk, D. A., & O'Neil, J. M. (2006). Nitrogen fixation and release of fixed nitrogen by Trichodesmium spp. in the Gulf of Mexico. Limnology and Oceanography, 51(4), 1762-1776. doi:10.4319/lo.2006.51.4.1762

ORCID

0000-0001-8819-189X (Mulholland)

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