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Nitrification in reef corals
Author(s) -
Wafar Mohideen,
Wafar Sayeeda,
David Jason J.
Publication year - 1990
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.1990.35.3.0725
Subject(s) - zooxanthellae , nitrification , coral , reef , nitrifying bacteria , coral reef , biology , environmental chemistry , coelenterata , ecology , cnidaria , zoology , chemistry , bacteria , nitrogen , symbiosis , genetics , organic chemistry
N‐Serve blockage of NH 4 + oxidation showed that nitrification in reef corals is quantitatively important. Average NO 3 − production was 9.4±6.0 nmol (mg coral tissue N) −1 h −1 (mean ± 1 SE; n = 12), equivalent to 17% of the NH 4 + consumption and 21% of the uptake by zooxanthellae showing an effective competition for NH 4 + by nitrifiers. NH 4 + utilization rates were equal to inorganic N production rates, and NO 3 − production rates were equal to NO 3 − uptake rates by zooxanthellae, suggesting close coupling betweenpocesses. Density nitrifying bacteria associated with living corals may vary from 4 to 260 × 10 3 cells (mg coral tissue N) −1 .