Contribution to the Themed Section: Advances in Plankton Modelling and Biodiversity Evaluation Optimality-based Trichodesmium diazotrophy in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre

A recent optimality-based model for phytoplankton growth and diazotrophy was applied at two stations located in the oligotrophic western and the ultra-oligotrophic eastern subtropical North Atlantic. Contrary to the common view that diazotrophy is favoured by nitrogen (N) depletion relative to the Redfield equivalent of phosphorus (P), we find that optimality-based diazotrophy could explain N fixation in both regions in spite of relatively high N: P supply ratios. This is possible because the availability of an additional source of N for diazotrophs makes them strong competitors for P under oligotrophic conditions. The best reproduction of observations, especially of net primary production, is only achieved with preferential remineralization of P relative to N and atmospheric deposition. In line with observations, a higher rate of nitrogen fixation is predicted for the eastern site, owing to a larger niche for diazotrophs resulting from stronger oligotrophy and lower N: P supply ratios due to weaker atmospheric N deposition. Because the competitive advantage of diazotrophs under nutrient starvation diminishes with increasing supply N: P ratio, the predicted increase of atmospheric N deposition due to anthropogenic activity could negatively affect N2 fixation in the Atlantic Ocean.