A role for nitrite in the production of nitrous oxide in the lower euphotic zone of the oligotrophic North Pacific Ocean

Understanding the role of the oceans in the Earth's changing climate requires comprehension of the relevant metabolic pathways which produce climatically important trace gases. The global ocean represents one of the largest natural sources of nitrous oxide (N₂O) that is produced by selected archaea and/or bacteria during nitrogen (N) metabolism. In this study, the role of nitrite (NO₂⁻) in the production of N₂O in the upper water column of the oligotrophic North Pacific Subtropical Gyre was investigated, focusing primarily on the lower euphotic zone where NO₂⁻ concentrations at the primary NO₂⁻ maximum reached 195 nmol L⁻¹. Free-drifting sediment trap arrays were deployed to measure N cycle processes in sinking particulate material and the addition of selected N substrates to unpreserved sediment traps provided an experimental framework to test hypotheses regarding N₂O production pathways and controls. Sinking particles collected using NO₂⁻-amended, unpreserved sediment traps exhibited significant production of N₂O at depths between 100 and 200 m. Subsequent stable isotope tracer measurements conducted on sediment trap material amended with ¹⁵NO₂⁻ yielded elevated δ¹⁵N values of N₂O, supporting N₂O production via a NO₂⁻ metabolism pathway. Experiments on seawater collected from 150 m showed N₂O production via NO₂⁻ metabolism also occurs in the water-column and indicated that the concentration of NO₂⁻ relative to NH₄⁺ availability may be an important control. These findings provide evidence for the production of N₂O via nitrifer-denitrification in the lower euphotic zone of the open ocean, whereby NO₂⁻ is reduced to N₂O by ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms.