More negative on top going backwards to write equation for electrode potentials
Determines feasibility
Electron Donor: H2
Electron Acceptor: O2
Marine Nitrogen Cycle and Oxidation States
NH4+ = charge of 1+. Hydrogen is 1+, N will be -3 charge to match 1+ charge.
The Nitrogen Cycle: the series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted
in the environment and in living organisms, including nitrogen fixation (The process of converting N2
into biologically available nitrogen) and decomposition.
Nitrogen: Nitrogen is one of the primary nutrients critical for the survival of all living organisms.
Although nitrogen is very abundant in the atmosphere, it is largely inaccessible in this form to most
organisms.
Why the Nitrogen Cycle
Efficiency of biological pump in C-export to deep ocean depends on
primary production which in turn is often regulated by th availiablity
of nitrate
Most fixed N occurs as nitrate (NO03-) in the oceans, but mostly locked in deep ocean. Fixed Nitrogen = Reactive N = Bioavailable N)
Redfield Ratio (C:N:P = 106:15:1)
N*=(NO3-)-16(PO4 3-) + 2.9 umol kg-1 = overall budget ratio
Relationship used to find deviation type and identify process of N.
Positive Deviation (N*>0) = N is in excess, N gain process e.g. N2 fixation
N2 Fixation
N2+8H+ + 8e- + 16ATP = 2NH3 + H2 + 16ADP + 16Pi
N2 unusable for most organisms due to high activation energy to break its triple bond.
Mediated by enzyme nitrogenase, which needs Fe and often Mo (Molybdenum)
Occurs in oligotrophic regions e.g. subtroical gyres (whirl), and upwelling regions
Maybe limited by Fe or P or both (nutrient competition)
Bloom forming cyanobacteria Trichodesmium and unicelluar cyanobacteria being
discovered. Including Heterotrophic and symbiotic bacteria
Negative Deviation (N*<0) = N deficit, N-loss process e.g. denitrification, anammox, N2O production
Denitrification
A step wise process: NO3- = NO2- = NO = N2O = N2
Major remineralisation process in Oceans as NO3- is thermodynamically the
most favourable electron acceptor after O2
Denitrifying organisms are diverse, usually facultative (capable of but not restricted to a particular
function or mode of life.) anaerobic microogranisms (bacteria, archaea) but also foraminifera.
Only known since 1995
Autotrophic (Plant) denitrification (e.g. coupled with sulphide oxidation) found to be important in
sulphidic water coloumn.
Anammox
NH4+ + NO2- = N2 + 2H2O
Performed by a group of chemolithoautotrophic bacteria that belong to planctomycetales
Marine sediment evidence 2002, now global in suboxic water and sediments
with distribution of marine anammox bacteria
Nitrification
Nitrification is the process that converts ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate. Mostly
carried out by yprokaryotes. Two steps of nitrification that are carried out by distinct types of
microorganisms.
The second step in nitrification is the oxidation of nitrite (NO2-) to nitrate (NO3-). This step
is carried out by a completely separate group of prokaryotes, known as nitrite-oxidizing Bacteria.
First step is the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite, carried out by microbes known as
ammonia-oxidizers. Aerobic ammonia oxidizers convert ammonia to nitrite via the intermediate
hydroxylamine, a process that requires two different enzymes, ammonia monooxygenase and
hydroxylamine oxidoreductase.
N loss in Indian and Pacific Ocean, Gain in Atlantic Ocean
Anthropogenic (human activity) impact
Haber Bosch, fossil fuel consumption, nitrogen-based fertilizers, N fixation cultivation ,etc
nearly 80% of the nitrogen found in human tissues originated from the Haber-Bosch process
Human activity with N is increasing with 4x increases added to atmosphere depostion.
Terrestrial ecosystems, the addition of nitrogen can lead to nutrient imbalance in trees, changes in
forest health, and declines in biodiversity.
Nearshore marine systems, increases in nitrogen can often lead to anoxia (no oxygen) or hypoxia (low oxygen),
altered biodiversity, changes in food-web structure, and general habitat degradation. One common consequence
of increased nitrogen is an increase in harmful algal blooms . Toxic blooms of certain types of dinoflagellates
have been associated with high fish and shellfish mortality in some areas. Also increased acidity in freshwater
systems.
Eutrophication of water - leads to blue baby syndrome East Anglia, and links to cancer
see http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/the-nitrogen-cycle-processes-players-and-human-15644632 for more detail
Summary: REDOX. Nitrogen has numerous oxidation states and gaseous forms lead to Nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen enters ocean via atmosphere, rivers and nitrogen fixation.
Nitrogen lost by denitrification and anammox, and some as N2O via denitrification and nitrification. Anthropogenic impact has significantly perturbed the marine N-cycle