Nitrification in the marine euphotic zone

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26850115
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Aquatic bioproduction science
• Research Institution: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (2015-2016); The University of Tokyo (2014)
• Principal Investigator: SHIOZAKI TAKUHEI 国立研究開発法人海洋研究開発機構, 地球環境観測研究開発センター, 特任研究員 (90569849)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 硝化 / 窒素循環 / 基礎生産

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined nitrification in the euphotic zone, its impact on the nitrogen cycles, and the controlling factors along a 7500 km transect from the equatorial Pacific Ocean to the Arctic Ocean. Nitrification occurred in the euphotic zone at most of the stations. Especially in the subtropical oligotrophic region, it accounted for up to 87.4% (average 55.6%) of the nitrate consumed by phytoplankton. Nitrification was likely not only controlled by light environment and ammonium concentration which have already known but also by micronutrient availability.

Free Research Field

生物地球化学