scholarly journals Dynamics of N<sub>2</sub> fixation and fate of diazotroph-derived nitrogen in a low-nutrient, low-chlorophyll ecosystem: results from the VAHINE mesocosm experiment (New Caledonia)

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2653-2673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Bonnet ◽  
Hugo Berthelot ◽  
Kendra Turk-Kubo ◽  
Sarah Fawcett ◽  
Eyal Rahav ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Bacterial Production ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Seawater Temperature ◽  
Sediment Traps ◽  
Turnover Time ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Standing Stocks

Abstract. N2 fixation rates were measured daily in large (∼ 50 m3) mesocosms deployed in the tropical southwest Pacific coastal ocean (New Caledonia) to investigate the temporal variability in N2 fixation rates in relation with environmental parameters and study the fate of diazotroph-derived nitrogen (DDN) in a low-nutrient, low-chlorophyll ecosystem. The mesocosms were fertilized with  ∼ 0.8 µM dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) to stimulate diazotrophy. Bulk N2 fixation rates were replicable between the three mesocosms, averaged 18.5 ± 1.1 nmol N L−1 d−1 over the 23 days, and increased by a factor of 2 during the second half of the experiment (days 15 to 23) to reach 27.3 ± 1.0 nmol N L−1 d−1. These later rates measured after the DIP fertilization are higher than the upper range reported for the global ocean. During the 23 days of the experiment, N2 fixation rates were positively correlated with seawater temperature, primary production, bacterial production, standing stocks of particulate organic carbon (POC), nitrogen (PON) and phosphorus (POP), and alkaline phosphatase activity, and negatively correlated with DIP concentrations, DIP turnover time, nitrate, and dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. The fate of DDN was investigated during a bloom of the unicellular diazotroph UCYN-C that occurred during the second half of the experiment. Quantification of diazotrophs in the sediment traps indicates that ∼ 10 % of UCYN-C from the water column was exported daily to the traps, representing as much as 22.4 ± 5.5 % of the total POC exported at the height of the UCYN-C bloom. This export was mainly due to the aggregation of small (5.7 ± 0.8 µm) UCYN-C cells into large (100–500 µm) aggregates. During the same time period, a DDN transfer experiment based on high-resolution nanometer-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS) coupled with 15N2 isotopic labeling revealed that 16 ± 6 % of the DDN was released to the dissolved pool and 21 ± 4 % was transferred to non-diazotrophic plankton, mainly picoplankton (18 ± 4 %) followed by diatoms (3 ± 2 %). This is consistent with the observed dramatic increase in picoplankton and diatom abundances, primary production, bacterial production, and standing stocks of POC, PON, and POP in the mesocosms during the second half of the experiment. These results offer insights into the fate of DDN during a bloom of UCYN-C in low-nutrient, low-chlorophyll ecosystems.

scholarly journals Dynamics of N<sub>2</sub> fixation and fate of diazotroph-derived nitrogen in a low nutrient low chlorophyll ecosystem: results from the VAHINE mesocosm experiment (New Caledonia)

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 19579-19626 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Bonnet ◽  
H. Berthelot ◽  
K. Turk-Kubo ◽  
S. Fawcett ◽  
E. Rahav ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Primary Production ◽  
Particulate Organic Carbon ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Bacterial Production ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Seawater Temperature ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Standing Stocks

Abstract. N2 fixation rates were measured daily in large (~ 50 m3) mesocosms deployed in the tropical South West Pacific coastal ocean (New Caledonia) to investigate the spatial and temporal dynamics of diazotrophy and the fate of diazotroph-derived nitrogen (DDN) in a low nutrient, low chlorophyll ecosystem. The mesocosms were intentionally fertilized with ~ 0.8 μM dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) to stimulate diazotrophy. Bulk N2 fixation rates were replicable between the three mesocosms, averaged 18.5 ± 1.1 nmol N L−1 d−1 over the 23 days, and increased by a factor of two during the second half of the experiment (days 15 to 23) to reach 27.3 ± 1.0 nmol N L−1 d−1. These rates are higher than the upper range reported for the global ocean, indicating that the waters surrounding New Caledonia are particularly favourable for N2 fixation. During the 23 days of the experiment, N2 fixation rates were positively correlated with seawater temperature, primary production, bacterial production, standing stocks of particulate organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase activity, and negatively correlated with DIP concentrations, DIP turnover time, nitrate, and dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. The fate of DDN was investigated during the bloom of the unicellular diazotroph, UCYN-C, that occurred during the second half of the experiment. Quantification of diazotrophs in the sediment traps indicates that ~ 10 % of UCYN-C from the water column were exported daily to the traps, representing as much as 22.4 ± 5.5 % of the total POC exported at the height of the UCYN-C bloom. This export was mainly due to the aggregation of small (5.7 ± 0.8 μm) UCYN-C cells into large (100–500 μm) aggregates. During the same time period, a DDN transfer experiment based on high-resolution nanometer scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS) coupled with 15N2 isotopic labelling revealed that 16 ± 6 % of the DDN was released to the dissolved pool and 21 ± 4 % was transferred to non-diazotrophic plankton, mainly picoplankton (18 ± 4 %) followed by diatoms (3 ± 2 %) within 24 h of incubation. This is consistent with the observed dramatic increase in picoplankton and diatom abundances, primary production, bacterial production and standing stocks of particulate organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus during the second half of the experiment in the mesocosms. These results offer insights into the fate of DDN during a bloom of UCYN-C in low nutrient, low chlorophyll ecosystems.

scholarly journals Heterotrophic bacterial production and metabolic balance during the VAHINE mesocosm experiment in the New Caledonia lagoon

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 19861-19900 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Van Wambeke ◽  
U. Pfreundt ◽  
A. Barani ◽  
H. Berthelot ◽  
T. Moutin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Primary Production ◽  
Bacterial Growth ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Bacterial Production ◽  
Carbon Budget ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Growth Efficiency ◽  
Mesocosm Experiment ◽  
Bacterial Growth Efficiency

Abstract. N2 fixation fuels ~ 50 % of new primary production in the oligotrophic South Pacific Ocean. The VAHINE mesocosm experiment designed to track the fate of diazotroph derived nitrogen (DDN) in the New Caledonia lagoon. Here, we examined the temporal dynamics of heterotrophic bacterial production during this experiment. Three replicate large-volume (~ 50 m3) mesocosms were deployed and were intentionally fertilized with dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) to stimulate N2 fixation. We specifically examined relationships between N2 fixation rates and primary production, determined bacterial growth efficiency and established carbon budgets of the system from the DIP fertilization to the end of the experiment (days 5–23). Heterotrophic bacterioplankton production (BP) and alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) were statistically higher during the second phase of the experiment (P2: days 15–23), when chlorophyll biomass started to increase compared to the first phase (P1: days 5–14). Among autotrophs, Synechococcus abundances increased during P2, possibly related to its capacity to assimilate leucine and to produce alkaline phosphatase. Bacterial growth efficiency based on the carbon budget was notably higher than generally cited for oligotrophic environments (27–43 %), possibly due to a high representation of proteorhodopsin-containing organisms within the picoplanctonic community. The carbon budget showed that the main fate of gross primary production (particulate + dissolved) was respiration (67 %), and export through sedimentation (17 %). BP was highly correlated with particulate primary production and chlorophyll biomass during both phases of the experiment but slightly correlated, and only during P2 phase, with N2 fixation rates. Our results suggest that most of the DDN reached the heterotrophic bacterial community through indirect processes, like mortality, lysis and grazing.

scholarly journals Heterotrophic bacterial production and metabolic balance during the VAHINE mesocosm experiment in the New Caledonia lagoon

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 3187-3202 ◽  
Author(s):  
France Van Wambeke ◽  
Ulrike Pfreundt ◽  
Aude Barani ◽  
Hugo Berthelot ◽  
Thierry Moutin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
Bacterial Growth ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Bacterial Production ◽  
Heterotrophic Bacteria ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Gross Primary Production ◽  
Growth Efficiency ◽  
Bacterial Growth Efficiency ◽  
Second Phase

Abstract. Studies investigating the fate of diazotrophs through the microbial food web are lacking, although N2 fixation can fuel up to 50 % of new production in some oligotrophic oceans. In particular, the role played by heterotrophic prokaryotes in this transfer is largely unknown. In the frame of the VAHINE (VAriability of vertical and tropHIc transfer of diazotroph derived N in the south wEst Pacific) experiment, three replicate large-volume (∼ 50 m3) mesocosms were deployed for 23 days in the new Caledonia lagoon and were intentionally fertilized on day 4 with dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) to stimulate N2 fixation. We specifically examined relationships between heterotrophic bacterial production (BP) and N2 fixation or primary production, determined bacterial growth efficiency and established carbon budgets. BP was statistically higher during the second phase of the experiment (P2: days 15–23), when chlorophyll biomass started to increase compared to the first phase (P1: days 5–14). Phosphatase alkaline activity increased drastically during the second phase of the experiment, showing adaptations of microbial populations after utilization of the added DIP. Notably, among autotrophs, Synechococcus abundances increased during P2, possibly related to its capacity to assimilate leucine and to produce alkaline phosphatase. Bacterial growth efficiency based on the carbon budget (27–43 %), was notably higher than generally cited for oligotrophic environments and discussed in links with the presence of abundant species of bacteria expressing proteorhodopsin. The main fates of gross primary production (particulate + dissolved) were respiration (67 %) and export through sedimentation (17 %). BP was highly correlated with particulate primary production and chlorophyll biomass during both phases of the experiment but was slightly correlated, and only during P2 phase, with N2 fixation rates. Heterotrophic bacterial production was strongly stimulated after mineral N enrichment experiments, suggesting N-limitation of heterotrophic bacteria across the experiment. N2 fixation rates corresponded to 17–37 % of the nitrogen demand of heterotrophic bacteria. Our results suggest that most of the diazotroph-derived nitrogen fuelled the heterotrophic bacterial community through indirect processes generating dissolved organic matter and detritus, like mortality, lysis and grazing of both diazotrophs and non-diazotrophs.

scholarly journals Influence of consumer-driven nutrient recycling on primary production and the distribution of N and P in the ocean

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 1285-1305 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Nugraha ◽  
P. Pondaven ◽  
P. Tréguer
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Nutrient Recycling ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
N:P Ratios ◽  
Limiting Nutrient ◽  
Consumer Interactions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
N And P Cycling

Abstract. In this study we investigated the impact of consumer-driven nutrient recycling (CNR) on oceanic primary production and the distribution of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the deep ocean. For this purpose, we used and extended two existing models: a 2-box model of N and P cycling in the global ocean (Tyrrell, 1999), and the model of Sterner (1990) which formalised the principles of CNR theory. The resulting model showed that marine herbivores may affect the supply and the stoichiometry of N and P in the ocean, thereby exerting a control on global primary production. The predicted global primary production was higher when herbivores were included in the model, particularly when these herbivores had higher N:P ratios than phytoplankton. This higher primary production was triggered by a low N:P resupply ratio, which, in turn, favoured the P-limited N2-fixation and eventually the N-limited non-fixers. Conversely, phytoplankton with higher N:P ratios increased herbivore yield until phosphorus became the limiting nutrient, thereby favouring herbivores with a low P-requirement. Finally, producer-consumer interactions fed back on the N and P inventories in the deep ocean through differential nutrient recycling. In this model, N deficit or N excess in the deep ocean resulted not only from the balance between N2-fixation and denitrification, but also from CNR, especially when the elemental composition of producers and consumers differed substantially. Although the model is fairly simple, these results emphasize our need for a better understanding of how consumers influence nutrient recycling in the ocean.

scholarly journals FLUJO DE NITRÓGENO Y FÓSFORO EN LA INTERFASE AGUA-SEDIMENTO EN UNA LAGUNA COSTERA TROPICAL (CIÉNAGA GRANDE DE SANTA MARTA, CARIBE COLOMBIANO)

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
G. R. Navas-S. ◽  
S. Zea ◽  
N. H. Campos
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
Coastal Lagoon ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Sediment Traps ◽  
Biogeochemical Processes ◽  
Marine Waters ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Tropical Coastal Lagoon

. Para evaluar el papel del sedimento sobre la alta producción primaria de una laguna costera tropical, Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (Caribe, Colombia), se midió el flujo de nitrógeno y fósforo (inorgánico disuelto, particulado) en la interfase agua-sedimento. Entre 1996 y 1997 se incubaron núcleos de sedimento en el laboratorio y se ubicaron trampas de partículas en campo, en dos estaciones contrastadas por la influencia de aguas dulces y marinas. Los flujos tuvieron una alta variabilidad espacial y temporal pero no mostraron esquemas claros en su dirección e intensidad en relación con las características de los sedimentos o de la columna de agua de las dos estaciones. Esto evidencia una alta heterogeneidad en la naturaleza y actividad de los organismos responsables de los procesos biogeoquímicos. Los sedimentos liberaron en promedio al agua 1643 μmolNm-2d-1 de amonio y 1.3 μmolNm-2d-1 de nitrito, aportando a la columna el 1.90-3.41 % de lo requerido en la producción. En condiciones óxicas normales, el sedimento actuó como sifón del fósforo, absorbiendo en promedio 178 μmolPm-2d-1 disueltos y recibiendo 36277 μmolPm-2d-1 particulados. Pero el fósforo se mantiene en exceso en la columna, en parte, por liberación desde el sedimento en condiciones anóxicas durante florecimientos microalgales masivos. Flux of nitrogen and phosphorus at the water-sediment boundary in a tropical coastal lagoon (Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean) To evaluate the role of the sediment in the high primary production of a tropical coastal lagoon, "Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta" (Caribbean, Colombia), the flux of nitrogen and phosphorous (dissolved, inorganic, particulate) in the water-sediment boundary was measured. From 1996 to 1997 sediment cores were incubated in the laboratory and sediment traps were deployed in the field, in two sites contrasted by the influence of fresh and marine waters. The fluxes were spatially and temporally highly variable but did not show clear patterns in their direction and intensity in relation to the sediment or water column characteristics at the two sites. This evidences a high heterogeneity in the nature and activity of the organisms responsible of the biogeochemical processes. The sediments liberated to the water on average 1643 μmolNm-2d-1 of ammonium and 1.3 μmolNm-2d-1 of nitrite, offering 1.90-3.41 % of the amount required in production. In normal oxic conditions, the sediment acted as a phosphorous sink, absorbing on average 178 μmolPm-2d-1 dissolved and receiving 36277 μmolPm-2d-1 particulate. But the phosphorous is maintained in excess in the column, in part, due to its liberation from the sediment in anoxic conditions during massive algal blooms.

scholarly journals Biogeochemical fluxes and fate of diazotroph derived nitrogen in the food web after a phosphate enrichment: Modeling of the VAHINE mesocosms experiment

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Gimenez ◽  
M. Baklouti ◽  
S. Bonnet ◽  
T. Moutin
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
Food Web ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Mechanistic Model ◽  
In Situ Experiment ◽  
Planktonic Food ◽  
Biogeochemical Fluxes

Abstract. The VAHINE mesocosm experiment in the oligotrophic waters of the Noumea lagoon (New Caledonia) aimed to assess the role of the nitrogen input through N2 fixation on carbon production and export, and to study the fate of diazotroph-derived nitrogen (DDN) throughout the planktonic food web. A 1D-vertical biogeochemical mechanistic model was used in addition to the in situ experiment to complement our comprehension of the dynamics of the planktonic ecosystem and the main biogeochemical carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphate (P) fluxes. The mesocosms were intentionally enriched with 0.8 μmol.L−1 of P to trigger the development of diazotrophs and amplify biogeochemical fluxes. Two simulations were run, one with and the other without the phosphate enrichment. In the P-enriched simulation, N2 fixation, primary production and C export increased by 201, 208 and 87 %, respectively, consistent with the observed trends observed in the mesocosms (+ 124 %, + 141 %, + 261 % for N2 fixation, PP and C export, respectively). The increase in primary and export productions became significant 10 days after the DIP enrichment, indicating that i) several days were necessary to obtain a significant response at the population scale, and ii) classical methods (short-term microscosms experiments) used to quantify nutrient limitations of primary production may not be relevant. The model allowed to follow the fate of fixed N2 by providing over time the proportion of DDN in each compartment (mineral and organic) of the model. At the end of the simulation (25 days), 43 % of the DDN was found in the non-diazotroph organisms, 33 % in diazotrophs, 16 % in the dissolved organic nitrogen pool, 3 % in the particulate detrital organic pool and 5 % in traps, indicating that N2 fixation efficiently benefitted to non-diazotrophic organisms and contributed to C export.

scholarly journals Dinitrogen fixation and dissolved organic nitrogen fueled primary production and particulate export during the VAHINE mesocosms experiment (New Caledonia lagoon)

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 4273-4313 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Berthelot ◽  
T. Moutin ◽  
S. L'Helguen ◽  
K. Leblanc ◽  
S. Hélias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Dissolved Organic Nitrogen ◽  
Organic Nitrogen ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Organic N ◽  
New Production ◽  
N Sources ◽  
P Limitation ◽  
Particle Export

Abstract. In the oligotrophic ocean characterized by nitrate (NO3-) depletion in surface waters, dinitrogen (N2) fixation and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) can represent significant nitrogen (N) sources for the ecosystem. Here we deployed in New Caledonia large in situ mesocosms in order to investigate (1) the contribution of N2 fixation and DON use to primary production (PP) and particle export and (2) the fate of the freshly produced particulate organic N (PON) i.e. whether it is preferentially accumulated and recycled in the water column or exported out of the system. The mesocosms were fertilized with phosphate (P) in order to prevent P-limitation and promote N2 fixation. The diazotrophic community was dominated by diatoms-diazotrophs associations (DDAs) during the first part of the experiment for 10 days (P1) followed by the unicellular N2-fixing cyanobacteria UCYN-C the 9 last days (P2) of the experiment. N2 fixation rates averaged 9.8 ± 4.0 and 27.7 ± 8.6 nM d−1 during P1 and P2, respectively. NO3- concentrations (< 40 nM) in the mesocosms were a negligible source of N indicating that N2 fixation was the main driver of new production all along the experiment. The contribution of v fixation to PP was not significantly different (p > 0.05) during P1 (9.0 ± 3.3%) and P2 (12.6 ± 6.1%). However, the e ratio that quantifies the efficiency of a system to export particulate organic carbon (POCexport) compared to PP (e ratio = POCexport/PP) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) during P2 (39.7 ± 24.9%) than during P1 (23.9 ± 20.2%) indicating that the production sustained by UCYN-C was more efficient at promoting C export than the production sustained by DDAs. During P1, PON was stable and the total amount of N provided by N2 fixation (0.10 ± 0.02 μM) was not significantly different (p > 0.05) from the total amount of PON exported (0.10 ± 0.04 μM), suggesting a rapid and probably direct export of the recently fixed N2 by the DDAs. During P2, both PON concentrations and PON export increased in the mesocosms by a factor 1.5–2. Unlike in P1, this PON production was not totally explained by the new N provided by N2 fixation. The use of DON, whose concentrations decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from 5.3 ± 0.5 μM to 4.4 ± 0.5 μM, appeared to be the missing N source. The DON consumption of about 0.9 μM during P2 is even higher than the total amount of new N brought by N2 fixation (about 0.25 μM) during the same period. These results suggest that while DDAs mainly rely on N2 fixation for their N requirement, both N2 fixation and DON can be significant N-sources for primary production and particulate export following UCYN-C blooms in the New Caledonia lagoon and by extension in the N-limited Ocean where similar events are likely to occur.

scholarly journals Nitrogen budgets following a Lagrangian strategy in the Western Tropical South Pacific Ocean: the prominent role of N<sub>2</sub> fixation (OUTPACE cruise)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Caffin ◽  
Thierry Moutin ◽  
Rachel Ann Foster ◽  
Pascale Bouruet-Aubertot ◽  
Andrea Michelangelo Doglioli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
Atmospheric Deposition ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Nifh Gene ◽  
Austral Summer ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
Eddy Diffusion ◽  
Sediment Traps ◽  
Nitrogen Budgets

Abstract. We performed N budgets at three stations in the western tropical South Pacific (WTSP) Ocean during austral summer conditions (Feb. Mar. 2015) and quantified all major N fluxes both entering the system (N2 fixation, nitrate eddy diffusion, atmospheric deposition) and leaving the system (PN export). Thanks to a Lagrangian strategy, we sampled the same water mass for the entire duration of each long duration (5 days) station, allowing to consider only vertical exchanges. Two stations located at the western end of the transect (Melanesian archipelago (MA) waters, LD A and LD B) were oligotrophic and characterized by a deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) located at 51 ± 18 m and 81 ± 9 m at LD A and LD B. Station LD C was characterized by a DCM located at 132 ± 7 m, representative of the ultra-oligotrophic waters of the South Pacific gyre (SPG water). N2 fixation rates were extremely high at both LD A (593 ± 51 µmol N m−2 d−1) and LD B (706 ± 302 µmol N m−2 d−1), and the diazotroph community was dominated by Trichodesmium. N2 fixation rates were lower (59 ± 16 µmol N m−2 d−1) at LD C and the diazotroph community was dominated by unicellular N2-fixing cyanobacteria (UCYN). At all stations, N2 fixation was the major source of new N (> 90 %) before atmospheric deposition and upward nitrate fluxes induced by turbulence. N2 fixation contributed circa 8–12 % of primary production in the MA region and 3 % in the SPG water and sustained nearly all new primary production at all stations. The e-ratio (e-ratio = PC export/PP) was maximum at LD A (9.7 %) and was higher than the e-ratio in most studied oligotrophic regions (~ 1 %), indicating a high efficiency of the WTSP to export carbon relative to primary production. The direct export of diazotrophs assessed by qPCR of the nifH gene in sediment traps represented up to 30.6 % of the PC export at LD A, while there contribution was 5 and

scholarly journals Dinitrogen fixation and dissolved organic nitrogen fueled primary production and particulate export during the VAHINE mesocosm experiment (New Caledonia lagoon)

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (13) ◽  
pp. 4099-4112 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Berthelot ◽  
T. Moutin ◽  
S. L'Helguen ◽  
K. Leblanc ◽  
S. Hélias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Dissolved Organic Nitrogen ◽  
Organic Nitrogen ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Organic N ◽  
New Production ◽  
N Sources ◽  
P Limitation ◽  
Particle Export

Abstract. In the oligotrophic ocean characterized by nitrate (NO3−) depletion in surface waters, dinitrogen (N2) fixation and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) can represent significant nitrogen (N) sources for the ecosystem. In this study, we deployed large in situ mesocosms in New Caledonia in order to investigate (1) the contribution of N2 fixation and DON use to primary production (PP) and particle export and (2) the fate of the freshly produced particulate organic N (PON), i.e., whether it is preferentially accumulated and recycled in the water column or exported out of the system. The mesocosms were fertilized with phosphate (PO43-) in order to prevent phosphorus (P) limitation and promote N2 fixation. The diazotrophic community was dominated by diatom–diazotroph associations (DDAs) during the first part of the experiment for 10 days (P1) followed by the unicellular N2-fixing cyanobacteria UCYN-C for the last 9 days (P2) of the experiment. N2 fixation rates averaged 9.8 ± 4.0 and 27.7 ± 8.6 nmol L−1 d−1 during P1 and P2, respectively. NO3− concentrations (< 0.04 μmol L−1) in the mesocosms were a negligible source of N, indicating that N2 fixation was the main driver of new production throughout the experiment. The contribution of N2 fixation to PP was not significantly different (p > 0.05) during P1 (9.0 ± 3.3 %) and P2 (12.6 ± 6.1 %). However, the e ratio that quantifies the efficiency of a system to export particulate organic carbon (POCexport) compared to PP (e ratio = POCexport/PP) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) during P2 (39.7 ± 24.9 %) than during P1 (23.9 ± 20.2 %), indicating that the production sustained by UCYN-C was more efficient at promoting C export than the production sustained by DDAs. During P1, PON was stable and the total amount of N provided by N2 fixation (0.10 ± 0.02 μmol L−1) was not significantly different (p > 0.05) from the total amount of PON exported (0.10 ± 0.04 μmol L−1), suggesting a rapid and probably direct export of the recently fixed N2 by the DDAs. During P2, both PON concentrations and PON export increased in the mesocosms by a factor 1.5–2. Unlike in P1, this PON production was not totally explained by the new N provided by N2 fixation. The use of DON, whose concentrations decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from 5.3 ± 0.5 μmol L−1 to 4.4 ± 0.5 μmol L−1, appeared to be the missing N source. The DON consumption (~ 0.9 μmol L−1) during P2 is higher than the total amount of new N brought by N2 fixation (~ 0.25 μmol L−1) during the same period. These results suggest that while DDAs mainly rely on N2 fixation for their N requirements, both N2 fixation and DON can be significant N sources for primary production and particulate export following UCYN-C blooms in the New Caledonia lagoon and by extension in the N-limited oceans where similar events are likely to occur.

scholarly journals Biogeochemical fluxes and fate of diazotroph-derived nitrogen in the food web after a phosphate enrichment: modeling of the VAHINE mesocosms experiment

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 5103-5120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrey Gimenez ◽  
Melika Baklouti ◽  
Sophie Bonnet ◽  
Thierry Moutin
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
Food Web ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Mechanistic Model ◽  
In Situ Experiment ◽  
Planktonic Food ◽  
Biogeochemical Fluxes

Abstract. The VAHINE mesocosm experiment in the oligotrophic waters of the Nouméa lagoon (New Caledonia), where high N2 fixation rates and abundant diazotroph organisms were observed, aimed to assess the role of the nitrogen input through N2 fixation in carbon production and export and to study the fate of diazotroph-derived nitrogen (DDN) throughout the planktonic food web. A 1-D vertical biogeochemical mechanistic model was used in addition to the in situ experiment to enrich our understanding of the dynamics of the planktonic ecosystem and the main biogeochemical carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P) fluxes. The mesocosms were intentionally enriched with  ∼  0.8 µmol L−1 of inorganic P to trigger the development of diazotrophs and amplify biogeochemical fluxes. Two simulations were run, one with and the other without the phosphate enrichment. In the P-enriched simulation, N2 fixation, primary production (PP) and C export increased by 201, 208 and 87 %, respectively, consistent with the trends observed in the mesocosms (+124, +141 and +261 % for N2 fixation, PP and C export, respectively). In total, 5–10 days were necessary to obtain an increase in primary and export productions after the dissolved inorganic phosphate (DIP) enrichment, thereby suggesting that classical methods (short-term microcosms experiments) used to quantify nutrient limitations of primary production may not be relevant. The model enabled us to monitor the fate of fixed N2 by providing the proportion of DDN in each compartment (inorganic and organic) of the model over time. At the end of the simulation (25 days), 43 % of the DDN was found in the non-diazotroph organisms, 33 % in diazotrophs, 16 % in the dissolved organic nitrogen pool, 3 % in the particulate detrital organic pool and 5 % in traps, indicating that N2 fixation was of benefit to non-diazotrophic organisms and contributed to C export.

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