古海洋活性铁循环研究进展及对白垩纪缺氧 富氧 沉积转变的启示

铁作为地壳中丰度最高的元素之一,广泛参与到一系列地球化学循环中。现代海洋中的铁主要来源于河流、冰川和风的铁氧化物颗粒和溶解铁的输入。陆源输入的铁氧化物在有机质埋藏、降解的早期成岩作用过程中,发生一系列转化过程而埋藏下来,该过程被称作活性铁循环。氧化 强氧化条件利于沉积物中氧化铁的持续产生或者至少保持不被溶解的状态,从而形成棕色-红色沉积物;还原条件利于沉积物中铁氧化物的溶解,形成菱铁矿、黄铁矿(铁硫化物) 等形式的埋藏,并可能造成溶解铁在海洋内的迁移。Raiswell、Canfield、Poulton等通过对现代典型海洋环境活性铁循环研究,提出了一系列用于判别古海洋氧化 还原条件的活性铁指标体系,并成功地将太古宙以来的古海洋划分成为含铁的大洋、硫化的大洋和氧化的大洋等3个演化阶段。由于活性铁的不同形态对磷具有不同的生物地球化学效应,将造成“氧化条件下磷的优先埋藏、缺氧条件下优先释放的现象”。磷是海洋生产力的限制性元素,铁和磷循环的上述耦合关系将造成“缺氧的大洋生产力越高,富氧的大洋生产力越低”现象的出现。目前已在白垩纪古海洋缺氧 富氧沉积中初步证实了上述反馈关系的存在,但是对活性铁埋藏形式对该特殊沉积的贡献还需要进一步的工作。     

海洋氮循环中稳定氮同位素变化与地质记录研究进展

海洋氮稳定同位素信号包含了关键的生物地球化学信息,是辨识海洋氮来源、了解海洋氮循环过程的重要途径和手段,该信号通过海洋沉降传递可保存在海洋沉积物中,用以追溯地质历史时期海洋系统中的生物地球化学循环和海洋环境演变。近几十年的研究表明,固氮作用和反硝化作用在海洋氮循环中发挥着关键作用,但海洋环境的时空多变、海洋氮循环过程和物质来源复杂,未来需要结合现代观测、地质记录,综合海洋、生物、地质多个学科,考虑水文环境、地质过程和气候演变等多种因素,才能深刻理解海洋氮循环和气候、环境变化的耦合关系。     

白垩纪大洋缺氧事件:研究进展与未来展望

白垩纪古海洋中分别在.Aptian-Albian、Cenomanian-Turonian和Coniacian-Santonian期间发生多次大洋缺氧事件(Oceanic Anoxic Events,OAEs),分别被称为OAE1、OAE2和OAE3,而OAE1又可以划分为OAE1a,1b,1c和1d四次,其中OAE1a和OAE2达到全球规模.白垩纪大洋缺氧事件一般对应海相碳酸盐岩的碳同位素正偏、海洋生物的快速更替和富有机质黑色页岩的大规模分布,指示了大范围的古环境、古气候变化.虽然历次大洋缺氧事件在成因上具有一定的差异,但是一般认为其与白垩纪时期海底大规模火成岩省的活动有关.大规模火成岩省活动将带来大气-海洋系统中CO2的上升,地表风化和水循环的加速,从而造成海洋中营养元素的过剩输入,引发海洋生产力的升高,诱发海洋中缺氧条件的发生.大洋缺氧条件下,由于碳-氧-硫-磷等元素之间的耦合循环关系,在大洋缺氧和海洋生产力之间形成快速的正反馈关系,有可能是白垩纪大洋缺氧事件得以达到全球规模的促进因素(如OAE1a和OAE2).不同时期的大洋缺氧事件对白垩纪大气-海洋系统的发展具有不同的意义:OAE1a标志着白垩纪中期极端温室气候的开始,OAE2前后是温室气候的高潮时期,而OAE3的发生则伴随白垩纪温室气候的减弱.由于历次大洋缺氧事件产生的大规模有机碳的埋藏,对大气-海洋系统产生了深刻的影响,其主要作用是导致大气海洋系统中CO2下降、O2上升,以及伴随而来的全球变冷和海洋氧化能力的增强.虽已历经30多年的研究,白垩纪大洋缺氧事件的前因和后果还未完全阐明,后续研究中将继续对重点的缺氧事件如OAE1(a,b,c,d)、OAE2和OAE3,开展多学科的研究,获取缺氧事件发生期间的古大气CO2浓度、海水温度、营养状况、生物种类及其海平面变化等方面的信息.大洋缺氧事件的陆相响应方面的研究也已经陆续开展,我国科学家可望在这方面有所作为.     

海洋中氮营养盐循环及其模型研究

对某一海区营养盐的去向、不同形态间的相互转化及其与生物相关的过程的研究是研究整个海洋生态系统的基础和关键。氮是海洋环境中主要的营养元素之一,并被认为是大部分海区的限制营养元素。人们对于氮在海洋环境中的循环过程的研究随着分析方法及对化学和生物知识的掌握和理解而不断加深。模型研究是研究海洋生态系统的一个有效方法,营养盐循环模型是其中重要的环节,随着理论和观测数据的补充而不断发展。综述了海洋环境中氮营养盐循环主要过程的实验研究,主要包括:浮游植物的吸收、氮的再生、微生物在其循环中的作用、不同形态氮的化学转化、水体-沉积物界面等,及其相关过程近十年来模型化研究的进展。     

海洋环境中乙烷和丙烷的分布及生物转化

海洋沉积物中蕴含着大量以甲烷（CH₄）、乙烷（C₂H₆）和丙烷（C₃H₈）为主要成分的烷烃化合物,与甲烷类似,乙烷与丙烷也是重要的温室气体。水合物分解和油气渗漏会释放这些烷烃化合物到海水及大气中,对海洋生态环境及全球气候产生重要影响。海洋环境中的微生物对烷烃的氧化作用有效降低了海洋烷烃气体的排放通量。系统综述了海洋环境中乙烷和丙烷的分布及生物转化机制的最新研究进展,归纳出以下认识：（1）海水中乙烷与丙烷的分布特征明显,主要受到水文、化学及生物等环境参数的影响;（2）海洋环境中乙烷与丙烷的生物来源主要有海水中浮游植物生产释放和沉积物中厌氧微生物生成,产甲烷菌可以利用多种底物生成乙烷与丙烷;（3）乙烷和丙烷的好氧氧化主要由烷烃氧化菌完成,并且该过程中伴随一定程度的碳氢同位素分馏;（4）沉积物中乙烷与丙烷的厌氧氧化通常与硫酸盐还原耦合,目前已对参与氧化乙烷与丙烷的硫酸盐还原菌及厌氧氧化机制有了初步认识。总结和回顾了海洋环境中乙烷和丙烷的来源、分布及微生物代谢过程,可为未来深入理解碳氢...     

海洋环境中乙烷和丙烷的分布及生物转化

海洋沉积物中蕴含着大量以甲烷（CH₄）、乙烷（C₂H₆）和丙烷（C₃H₈）为主要成分的烷烃化合物,与甲烷类似,乙烷与丙烷也是重要的温室气体。水合物分解和油气渗漏会释放这些烷烃化合物到海水及大气中,对海洋生态环境及全球气候产生重要影响。海洋环境中的微生物对烷烃的氧化作用有效降低了海洋烷烃气体的排放通量。系统综述了海洋环境中乙烷和丙烷的分布及生物转化机制的最新研究进展,归纳出以下认识：（1）海水中乙烷与丙烷的分布特征明显,主要受到水文、化学及生物等环境参数的影响;（2）海洋环境中乙烷与丙烷的生物来源主要有海水中浮游植物生产释放和沉积物中厌氧微生物生成,产甲烷菌可以利用多种底物生成乙烷与丙烷;（3）乙烷和丙烷的好氧氧化主要由烷烃氧化菌完成,并且该过程中伴随一定程度的碳氢同位素分馏;（4）沉积物中乙烷与丙烷的厌氧氧化通常与硫酸盐还原耦合,目前已对参与氧化乙烷与丙烷的硫酸盐还原菌及厌氧氧化机制有了初步认识。总结和回顾了海洋环境中乙烷和丙烷的来源、分布及微生物代谢过程,可为未来深入理解碳氢...     

地下水氮循环与砷迁移转化耦合的研究现状和趋势

地下水中铵根、砷、溶解铁的共存是一个普遍现象。它们之间发生强烈的相互作用,并影响地下水系统的氮循环和砷迁移转化。文章在系统总结地下水氮循环过程及影响因素、地下水氮循环功能微生物及特征、地下水砷富集的水文地球化学过程等国内外研究现状的基础上,深入分析了地下水系统中的氮循环过程（硝化、反硝化、铁铵氧化、厌氧铵氧化、硝酸根异化还原产铵等）对地下水砷迁移转化的影响,总结出含水层中铁氧化物和溶解态Fe(II)的动态转化是氮循环影响地下水中砷迁移转化的重要桥梁。据此提出不同氧化还原环境的含水层中氮循环过程、地下水氮循环与砷迁移转化耦合机理、Fe(III)-Fe(II)的循环-地下水氮循环-砷迁移转化之间的相互作用过程、地表水-地下水相互作用带氮-铁-砷的循环过程及其对人类活动的响应等是今后该领域需要关注的重要科学问题和主要发展趋势。这些科学问题的解决不仅有利于识别地下水中氮的来源和迁移转化,而且有利于提高对高砷地下水富集机理的整体认识。     

细菌藿多醇的环境指示作用及其在海洋生态环境重建中的应用

细菌藿多醇（Bacteriohopanepolyols,BHPs）是细菌细胞膜中高度结构变异的五环三萜类化合物,易保存且受成岩作用影响较小,广泛分布于陆地和海洋环境中。BHPs作为一种新型微生物标志物,由于其细菌来源专属性和环境专属性,近年来已在示踪有机质来源、环境演变过程以及反演古环境方面表现出巨大的应用潜力。本文系统分析了近年来全球土壤、沉积物和海水中BHPs的组成、分布和来源,发现热带和温带区域中BHPs的多样性和含量通常高于寒带区域,且由土壤、河流、近海到外海海域逐渐降低。探讨了土壤标志物BHPs、细菌霍四醇同分异构体（BHT- Ⅱ）和35- 氨基霍多醇在有机质来源、缺氧环境、厌氧氨氧化和甲烷氧化活动方面的环境指示作用及在海洋生态环境重建中的应用,以期为示踪海洋生态环境变化提供新指标和新途径。     

r-IPTra与r-IPTV在淡水沉积物脱氮速率研究中的对比分析

正确评估淡水环境中沉积物脱氮效应对理解淡水系统氮循环过程具有重要的科学意义,修正~(15)N同位素配对技术(revised ~(15)N isotope pairing techniques,r-IPT)可同时评估沉积物柱样中反硝化与厌氧氨氧化速率及其脱氮贡献。本文利用流动柱样培养实验,首次在淡水系统中对比了利用泥浆实验提供参数的r-IPT_(ra)与由柱样培养实验本身提供参数的r-IPT_V计算沉积物脱氮速率的差异性,并评估了秋季太湖不同沉积环境脱氮速率。研究表明:(1)泥浆实验结果表明,太湖梅梁湾与胥湖沉积物中均存在反硝化与厌氧氨氧化作用。(2)r-IPT方法的基本假设在研究区域均成立。其中,r-IPT_V得到的两湖区沉积物原位脱氮速率均与添加15NO-3浓度无关,表明r-IPT_V对沉积物脱氮速率评估具有更好的计算精度。(3)r-IPT_V计算结果表明,梅梁湾与胥湖沉积物反硝化、厌氧氨氧化、脱氮速率分别为3.09、1.47、4.56μmol/(m2·h)与0.69、0.02、0.71μmol/(m~2·h),厌氧氨氧化对两湖区沉积物脱氮贡献率(ra)分别为32.2%与3.3%。(4)对比r-IPT_(ra)与r-IPT_V在两个湖区的计算结果,当ra较低时(3.3%),r-IPT_(ra)与r-IPT_V计算的沉积物脱氮速率及厌氧氨氧化速率接近;而当ra较高时(32.2%),r-IPT_(ra)显著高估沉积物脱氮速率,低估厌氧氨氧化贡献率。     

稳定氮同位素在环境污染示踪中的应用进展

自然界的氮循环已被严重扰乱,失衡的氮循环过程中产生的一些氮氧化物和氮氢化物(如N2O、NO3-、NO2-、NH3、NH4 等)是全球温室效应、水体富营养化和酸雨危害的主要贡献者。稳定氮同位素作为一种有效的示踪手段,在研究氮循环特别是污染氮源的识别方面有重要意义。本文在简要总结氮的同位素分馏效应的基础上,重点论述和分析了稳定氮同位素在植被-土壤-地下水系统和大气系统中的氮源识别,并结合研究现状探讨了研究前景。     

Anammox in Tidal Marsh Sediments: The Role of Salinity,Nitrogen Loading,and Marsh Vegetation

Anammox bacteria are widespread in the marine environment, but studies of anammox in marshes and other wetlands are still scarce. In this study, the role of anammox in nitrogen removal from marsh sediments was surveyed in four vegetation types characteristic of New England marshes and in unvegetated tidal creeks. The sites spanned a salinity gradient from 0 to 20 psu. The impact of nitrogen loading on the role of anammox in marsh sediments was studied in a marsh fertilization experiment and in marshes with high nitrogen loading entering through ground water. In all locations, nitrogen removal through anammox was low compared to denitrification, with anammox accounting for less than 3% of the total N₂ production. The highest relative importance of anammox was found in the sediments of freshwater-dominated marshes, where anammox approached 3%, whereas anammox was of lesser importance in saline marsh sediments. Increased nitrogen loading, in the form of nitrate from natural or artificial sources, did not impact the relative importance of anammox, which remained low in all the nitrogen enriched locations (<1%).     

Short chain ladderanes: Oxic biodegradation products of anammox lipids

Anammox, the microbial anaerobic oxidation of ammonium by nitrite to produce dinitrogen gas, has been recognized as a key process in both the marine and freshwater nitrogen cycles, and found to be a major sink for fixed inorganic nitrogen in the oceans. Ladderane lipids are unique anammox bacterial membrane lipids that have been used as biomarkers for anammox bacteria in recent and past environmental settings. However, the fate of ladderane lipids during diagenesis is as of yet unknown. In this study, we performed oxic degradation experiments (at 20-100 °C) with anammox bacterial biomass to simulate early diagenetic processes occurring in the water column and at the sediment-water interface. Abundances of C₁₈ and C₂₀ ladderane lipids decreased with increasing temperatures, testifying to their labile nature. The most abundant products formed were ladderane lipids with a shorter alkyl side chain (C₁₄ and C₁₆ ladderane fatty acids), which was unambiguously established using two-dimensional NMR techniques on an isolated C₁₄-[3]-ladderane fatty acid. The most pronounced production of these short-chain lipids was at 40 °C, suggesting that degradation of ladderane lipids was microbially mediated, likely through a β-oxidation pathway. An HPLC-MS/MS method was developed for the detection of these ladderane alteration products in environmental samples and positively tested on various sediments. This showed that the ladderanes formed during degradation experiments also naturally occur in the marine environment. Thus, short-chain ladderane lipids may complement the original longer-chain ladderane lipids as suitable biomarkers for the detection of anammox processes in past depositional environments.     

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation by nitrite (anammox): Implications for N2 production in coastal marine sediments

The respiratory reduction of nitrate (denitrification) is acknowledged as the most important process that converts biologically available nitrogen to gaseous dinitrogen (N₂) in marine ecosystems. Recent findings, however, indicate that anaerobic ammonium oxidation by nitrite (anammox) may be an important pathway for N₂ formation and N removal in coastal marine sediments and in anoxic water columns of the oceans. In the present study, we explored this novel mechanism during N mineralization by ¹⁵N amendments (single and coupled additions of ¹⁵NH₄⁺, ¹⁴NO₃⁻ and ¹⁵NO₃⁻) to surface sediments with a wide range of characteristics and overall reactivity. Patterns of ^29/30N₂ production in the pore water during closed sediment incubations demonstrated anammox at all 7 of the investigated sites. Stoichiometric calculations revealed that 4% to 79% of total N₂ production was due to this novel route. The relative importance of anammox for N₂ release was inversely correlated with remineralized solute production, benthic O₂ consumption, and surface sediment Chl a. The observed correlations indicate competition between reductants for pore water nitrite during early diagenesis and that additional factors (e.g. availability of Mn-oxides), superimposed on overall patterns of diagenetic activity, are important for determining absolute and relative rates of anammox in coastal marine sediments.     

Biomarker evidence for anammox in the oxygen minimum zone of the Eastern Tropical North Pacific

Anaerobic oxidation of ammonium (anammox) is an important process in the marine N cycle. It has been estimated to contribute up to 50% of N loss from the ocean and is especially prevalent within the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). We studied the presence and distribution of anammox in the extended OMZ of the Eastern Tropical North Pacific (ETNP) using ladderane fatty acids (FAs), specific biomarkers for anammox bacteria. The validity of ladderane FAs as a proxy for anammox bacteria was demonstrated by their excellent correspondence with anammox 16S rRNA functional gene abundances and their expression and intact polar ladderane lipid concentrations in suspended particulate matter (SPM) from the Arabian Sea. In the ETNP, SPM was collected from various water depths at four stations along a northwest to southeast cruise transect and ladderane FAs were analysed at each station. In all SPM samples where ladderanes were detected, C₁₈ ladderane FAs were on average fivefold more abundant than C₂₀ ladderane FAs. Maximum ladderane FA concentrations (1.1–2.3 ng l⁻¹) were recorded at 400–600 m, often corresponding to the depth of the secondary nitrite maximum. At one of the four stations, a second maximum in concentration was noted at a shallower depth (85 m), coinciding with higher nitrite availability at this depth. This suggests that nitrite, along with oxygen, may be a limiting factor for anammox activity in the ETNP. Anammox lipids were abundant within the OMZ at all stations and concentrations were comparable to those in other OMZs, suggesting that anammox may be responsible for a significant loss of N from the OMZ of the ETNP.     

Benthic nitrogen cycling traversing the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone

Benthic nitrogen (N) cycling was investigated at six stations along a transect traversing the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) at 11°S. An extensive dataset including porewater concentration profiles and in situ benthic fluxes of nitrate (NO₃⁻), nitrite (NO₂⁻) and ammonium (NH₄⁺) was used to constrain a 1-D reaction-transport model designed to simulate and interpret the measured data at each station. Simulated rates of nitrification, denitrification, anammox and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) by filamentous large sulfur bacteria (e.g. Beggiatoa and Thioploca) were highly variable throughout the OMZ yet clear trends were discernible. On the shelf and upper slope (80-260 m water depth) where extensive areas of bacterial mats were present, DNRA dominated total N turnover (?2.9 mmol N m⁻² d⁻¹) and accounted for ?65% of NO₃⁻ + NO₂⁻ uptake by the sediments from the bottom water. Nonetheless, these sediments did not represent a major sink for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN = NO₃⁻ + NO₂⁻ + NH₄⁺) since DNRA reduces NO₃⁻ and, potentially NO₂⁻, to NH₄⁺. Consequently, the shelf and upper slope sediments were recycling sites for DIN due to relatively low rates of denitrification and high rates of ammonium release from DNRA and ammonification of organic matter. This finding contrasts with the current opinion that sediments underlying OMZs are a strong sink for DIN. Only at greater water depths (300-1000 m) did the sediments become a net sink for DIN. Here, denitrification was the major process (?2 mmol N m⁻² d⁻¹) and removed 55-73% of NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻ taken up by the sediments, with DNRA and anammox accounting for the remaining fraction. Anammox was of minor importance on the shelf and upper slope yet contributed up to 62% to total N₂ production at the 1000 m station. The results indicate that the partitioning of oxidized N (NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻) into DNRA or denitrification is a key factor determining the role of marine sediments as DIN sinks or recycling sites. Consequently, high measured benthic uptake rates of oxidized N within OMZs do not necessarily indicate a loss of fixed N from the marine environment.     

喀斯特山区溪流上覆水—孔隙水—沉积物中不同形态氮的赋存特征及其迁移——以麦西河为例

选取贵州百花湖入湖支流麦西河为对象,研究了上覆水—孔隙水—沉积物体系氮的形态差异,结果表明:麦西河上覆水中,以硝态氮(NO-3-N)为主,氨态氮(NH+4-N)次之,亚硝态氮(NO-2-N)最低;孔隙水中,溶解无机氮中以NH+4-N为主, NO-3-N次之, NO-2-N最低;沉积物中,总氮(TN)的含量为1110.67～4413.16mg/kg;固定态铵含量为34.56～170.05mg/kg,占TN的1.47%～6.25%;可交换态氮以NH+4-N为主, NO-3-N次之, NO-2-N最低。孔隙水NH+4-N是上覆水NH+4-N的2.65～19.51倍,上覆水NO-3-N是孔隙水NO-3-N的7.14～20.43倍。沉积物TN与孔隙溶解水无机氮(DIN)、孔隙水NH+4-N、沉积物可交换态氮和沉积物可交换性NH+4-N呈显著正相关;在沉积物中,可交换性NO-3-N与可交换性NH+4-N及可交换态氮呈显著正相关,可交换性NH+4-N与可交换态氮呈极显著正相关;孔隙水溶解无机氮与孔隙水NH+4-N呈极显著正相关。麦西河不同介质中氮的迁移关系则表现为:由于浓度梯度,上覆水中的NO-3-N扩散到孔隙水中,进而累积到沉积物中;沉积物的可交换性NH+4-N,进入孔隙水,最终扩散到上覆水中。      

Thermal stability of ladderane lipids as determined by hydrous pyrolysis

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) has been recognized as a major process resulting in loss of fixed inorganic nitrogen in the marine environment. Ladderane lipids, membrane lipids unique to anammox bacteria, have been used as markers for the detection of anammox in marine settings. However, the fate of ladderane lipids after sediment burial and maturation is unknown. In this study, anammox bacterial cell material was artificially matured by hydrous pyrolysis at constant temperatures ranging from 120 to 365 °C for 72 h to study the stability of ladderane lipids during progressive dia- and catagenesis. HPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed that structural alterations of ladderane lipids already occurred at 120 °C. At temperatures >140 °C, ladderane lipids were absent and only more thermally stable products could be detected, i.e., ladderane derivatives in which some of the cyclobutane rings were opened. These diagenetic products of ladderane lipids were still detectable up to temperatures of 260 °C using GC-MS. Thus, ladderane lipids are unlikely to occur in ancient sediments and sedimentary rocks, but specific diagenetic products of ladderane lipids will likely be present in sediments and sedimentary rocks of relatively low maturity (i.e., C₃₁ hopane 22S/(22S + 22R) ratio <0.2 or ββ/(αβ + βα + ββ) ratio of >0.5).     

海水硝酸盐氮、氧同位素组成研究进展

海洋中氮的生物地球化学循环影响着海洋生态系统的结构和功能,并和全球气候变化有着密切的联系,一直是海洋科学研究的重点和热点。海水硝酸盐的15N/14N和18O/16O比值可以反映海洋中氮循环的主要过程,因而成为研究海洋氮循环的一个重要手段。综述海水硝酸盐氮、氧同位素组成的测定方法,同化吸收作用、硝化作用、反硝化作用、生物固氮作用等氮循环过程所导致的氮、氧同位素分馏及其在海洋学研究中的应用。海洋生态系中硝酸盐氮、氧同位素的分布可以提供支持生物生产力的氮来源信息,以及氮在不同储库迁移转化的路径与机制。未来的研究需要发展适用于低含量硝酸盐的同位素测量方法,构筑海洋氮的收支平衡,掌握影响上层海洋硝酸盐氮、氧同位素变化的过程,获取全球海域有关硝酸盐氮、氧同位素组成的更多数据。     

Denitrification pathways and rates in the sandy sediments of the Georgia continental shelf,USA

Denitrification in continental shelf sediments has been estimated to be a significant sink of oceanic fixed nitrogen (N). The significance and mechanisms of denitrification in organic-poor sands, which comprise 70% of continental shelf sediments, are not well known. Core incubations and isotope tracer techniques were employed to determine processes and rates of denitrification in the coarse-grained, sandy sediments of the Georgia continental shelf. In these sediments, heterotrophic denitrification was the dominant process for fixed N removal. Processes such as coupled nitrification-denitrification, anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation), and oxygen-limited autotrophic nitrification-denitrification were not evident over the 24 and 48 h time scale of the incubation experiments. Heterotrophic denitrification processes produce 22.8–34.1 μmole N m^-2 d^-1 of N₂ in these coarse-grained sediments. These denitrification rates are approximately two orders of magnitude lower than rates determined in fine-grained shelf sediments. These lower rates may help reconcile unbalanced marine N budgets which calculate global N losses exceeding N inputs.     

Advance in Studies on Intracellular Nitrate Storage and Denitrification of Benthic Foraminifera

Benthic foraminifera is the first kind of eukaryotes reported to carry on denitrification, which breaks the understanding of the eukaryotic metabolic way. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the contribution of benthic foraminifera to sedimentary denitrification exceeds the prokaryotes. Furthermore, benthic foraminifera stores large amount of nitrate intracellularly, which far exceeds the amount of nitrate in pore water. These findings challenge our understanding of the nitrogen cycle in sediments. The study of foraminiferal intracellular nitrate storage and denitrification is significant to figure out the metabolic way of eukaryote in anoxic environment and to quantify the balance of nitrogen in marine environment. The history of foraminiferal intracellular nitrate storage and denitrification study was discussed. In addition, the distribution of foraminiferal intracellular nitrate and denitrification rates in marine environment was also discussed. The latest research progresses about the related mechanism were also summarized. Finally, the problems and challenges in present and future studies were discussed.