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Nitrogen fixation by algae in a Massachusetts salt marsh 1
Author(s) -
Carpenter Edward J.,
Van Raalte Charlene D.,
Valiela Ivan
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1978.23.2.0318
Subject(s) - salt marsh , marsh , nitrogen fixation , algae , nitrogen , fixation (population genetics) , zoology , botany , biology , environmental science , agronomy , chemistry , wetland , ecology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , gene
Over a 3‐year period, N 2 fixation on the surface of a Cape Cod salt marsh was highest in summer, with overall rates of about 10–20 mg N m −2 d −1 . This average, coupled with N 2 fixation in the rhizosphere (ca. 80 mg N m −2 d −1 ), compared favorably with the highest N 2 fixation rates measured anywhere. There were significant variations from one marsh habitat to another; the blue‐green algal mat had the highest rate of N 2 fixation per unit area (100–200 ng N cm −2 h −1 ), but due to its large area, the low marsh with short Spartina contributed the greatest amount of fixed N. Nitrogen is fixed on the marsh surface primarily by blue‐green algae.