Microbiological, molecular biological and stable isotopic evidence for nitrogen fixation in the open waters of Lake Michigan

Environmental Microbiology
B J MacGregorD A Stahl

Abstract

We have used a combination of microbiological, molecular biological and stable isotope methods to relate specific microbial populations to elemental cycling at an offshore site in Lake Michigan. Several lines of evidence suggest that atmospheric N2 may be a significant source of nitrogen to the lake. Particulate organic nitrogen (PON) at approximately equals 10-15m depth in July and October had a delta15N of 0.5-1.5%o. These values closely reflect the 15N composition of atmospheric N2, suggesting biological nitrogen fixation. Historical data show a developing late-summer N:P minimum at approximately equals 15 m; low abundance of inorganic nitrogen relative to phosphorus favours species able to acquire atmospheric nitrogen. Microscopic examination of October water samples revealed abundant heterocystous cyanobacteria, including Nodularia sp. Potentially nitrogen-fixing Anabaena spp. have been found in Lake Michigan before but, to our knowledge, this is the first report of Nodularia. Finally, we have amplified both cyanobacterial and non-cyanobacterial nifH sequences (encoding the nitrogenase iron protein) from lakewater samples, evidence for the presence of bacteria capable of nitrogen fixation. The surface waters of Lake Michig...Continue Reading

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Citations

Oct 9, 2007·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Allana WelshDittmar Hahn
Aug 30, 2001·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·B J MacGregorD A Stahl
Mar 10, 2004·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Grieg F StewardJonathan P Zehr
Mar 10, 2004·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Bethany D JenkinsJonathan P Zehr
Apr 7, 2004·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Steven M ShortJonathan P Zehr
Jul 1, 2011·Molecular Biology Reports·Alessandra M GonzalezRodolfo Paranhos
Nov 7, 2019·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Ryan F LepakJames P Hurley
Mar 28, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Linqi TianHelong Jiang

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