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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
earth and planetary sciences
Large-scale distribution of Atlantic nitrogen fixation controlled by iron availability
Nature Geoscience, Volume 2, No. 12, Year 2009
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Description
Oceanic fixed-nitrogen concentrations are controlled by the balance between nitrogen fixation and denitrification. A number of factors, including iron limitation, can restrict nitrogen fixation, introducing the potential for decoupling of nitrogen inputs and losses. Such decoupling could significantly affect the oceanic fixed-nitrogen inventory and consequently the biological component of ocean carbon storage and hence air-sea partitioning of carbon dioxide. However, the extent to which nutrients limit nitrogen fixation in the global ocean is uncertain. Here, we examined rates of nitrogen fixation and nutrient concentrations in the surface waters of the Atlantic Ocean along a north-south 10,000 km transect during October and November 2005. We show that rates of nitrogen fixation were markedly higher in the North Atlantic compared with the South Atlantic Ocean. Across the two basins, nitrogen fixation was positively correlated with dissolved iron and negatively correlated with dissolved phosphorus concentrations. We conclude that inter-basin differences in nitrogen fixation are controlled by iron supply rather than phosphorus availability. Analysis of the nutrient content of deep waters suggests that the fixed nitrogen enters North Atlantic Deep Water. Our study thus supports the suggestion that iron significantly influences nitrogen fixation, and that subsequent interactions with ocean circulation patterns contribute to the decoupling of nitrogen fixation and loss. © 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Moore, C. Mark
United Kingdom, Colchester
University of Essex
United Kingdom, Southampton
University of Southampton
Mills, Matthew M.
United States, Palo Alto
Stanford University
Achterberg, Eric P.
United Kingdom, Southampton
University of Southampton
Geider, Richard J.
United Kingdom, Colchester
University of Essex
LaRoche, Julie
Germany, Kiel
Geomar - Helmholtz-zentrum Für Ozeanforschung Kiel
Lucas, Michael I.
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
McDonagh, Elaine L.
United Kingdom, Southampton
University of Southampton
Pan, Xi
United Kingdom, Southampton
University of Southampton
Poulton, Alex J.
United Kingdom, Southampton
University of Southampton
Rijkenberg, Micha J.A.
United Kingdom, Southampton
University of Southampton
Suggett, David John
United Kingdom, Colchester
University of Essex
Ussher, Simon J.
United Kingdom, Plymouth
University of Plymouth
Woodward, Ernest Malcolm S.
United Kingdom, Plymouth
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Statistics
Citations: 420
Authors: 13
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1038/ngeo667
ISSN:
17520894
e-ISSN:
17520908
Research Areas
Environmental