Nitrogen fixation by Trichodesmium spp.:: An important source of new nitrogen to the tropical and subtropical North Atlantic Ocean -: art. no. GB2024

[1] The broad distribution and often high densities of the cyanobacterium Trichodesmium spp. in oligotrophic waters imply a substantial role for this one taxon in the oceanic N cycle of the marine tropics and subtropics. New results from 154 stations on six research cruises in the North Atlantic Ocean show depth-integrated N-2 fixation by Trichodesmium spp. at many stations that equalled or exceeded the estimated vertical flux of NO3- into the euphotic zone by diapycnal mixing. Areal rates are consistent with those derived from several indirect geochemical analyses. Direct measurements of N-2 fixation rates by Trichodesmium are also congruent with upper water column N budgets derived from parallel determinations of stable isotope distributions, clearly showing that N2 fixation by Trichodesmium is a major source of new nitrogen in the tropical North Atlantic. We project a conservative estimate of the annual input of new N into the tropical North Atlantic of at least 1.6 x 10(12) mol N by Trichodesmium N-2 fixation alone. This input can account for a substantial fraction of the N-2 fixation in the North Atlantic inferred by several of the geochemical approaches.