Nitrate Concentration Gradients Research Articles

Distinct nitrogen cycling and steep chemical gradients in Trichodesmium colonies

Trichodesmium is an important dinitrogen (N2)-fixing cyanobacterium in marine ecosystems. Recent nucleic acid analyses indicate that Trichodesmium colonies with their diverse epibionts support various nitrogen (N) transformations beyond N2 fixation. However, rates of these transformations and concentration gradients of N compounds in Trichodesmium colonies remain largely unresolved. We combined isotope-tracer incubations, micro-profiling and numeric modelling to explore carbon fixation, N cycling processes as well as oxygen, ammonium and nitrate concentration gradients in individual field-sampled Trichodesmium colonies. Colonies were net-autotrophic, with carbon and N2 fixation occurring mostly during the day. Ten percent of the fixed N was released as ammonium after 12-h incubations. Nitrification was not detectable but nitrate consumption was high when nitrate was added. The consumed nitrate was partly reduced to ammonium, while denitrification was insignificant. Thus, the potential N transformation network was characterised by fixed N gain and recycling processes rather than denitrification. Oxygen concentrations within colonies were ~60–200% air-saturation. Moreover, our modelling predicted steep concentration gradients, with up to 6-fold higher ammonium concentrations, and nitrate depletion in the colony centre compared to the ambient seawater. These gradients created a chemically heterogeneous microenvironment, presumably facilitating diverse microbial metabolisms in millimetre-sized Trichodesmium colonies.

Groundwater systems in bare and covered karst aquifers: evidence from tracer tests, hydrochemistry, and groundwater ages

The east Guilin region contains a karst dominated hydrological system along the Lijiang River. The two main topographic characteristics of the basin are peak cluster depression and peak forest. Despite the fact that these areas represent adjacent units, they have different groundwater movement patterns. This study describes the groundwater and solute movement in the different hydrogeological sub-regions via several techniques. Our results indicated that the topographic boundary between the peak cluster depression and the peak forest is clear. However, a transition zone exists between these topographic zones, and it can be determined in terms of groundwater movement. We employed several methods that are widely considered to be effective. Tracer tests were conducted in the transition zone, hydrochemistry techniques were used in the peak forest, and groundwater age dating based on CFCs was employed throughout the study area. The main conduits could be found in the transition zone, but the groundwater flow was much slower in the transition zone than in the mountain peak cluster area. Minor conduits also accounted for a high proportion of the total flow in the transition zone. The solute migration within the plain, which was determined by analyzing the nitrates, was controlled by mixing and distance effects. The maximum nitrate concentration was limited at the local scale. The nitrate concentration gradient at the regional scale was not related to the groundwater movement, indicating that the groundwater recharged in a dispersed manner and discharged at discrete locations along the river. The age dating revealed that the groundwater was older in the plain than in the bare mountain zone. This was due to the strong mixing of young and old water, which was the result of the characteristics of the karst media in the aquifer. Our investigation of the groundwater system in a bare/covered karst aquifer provides data for decision-making in effective groundwater management.

Lithologic and redox controls on hexavalent chromium in vadose zone sediments of California’s Central Valley

In agricultural regions of California where ultramafic sediments containing naturally occurring Cr(III) are present, correlations between Cr(VI) and nitrate in groundwater have been attributed to oxidation of Cr(III) in vadose sediments and mobilization by areal recharge, including irrigation return. However, the distribution of Cr and nitrate through the vadose zone have yet to be evaluated together to investigate the controls on geogenic Cr(VI) occurrence and resulting Cr(VI) production rates and export fluxes to groundwater. To develop a framework for evaluating geogenic Cr(VI) contamination, we analyze vadose zone sediment cores from the southwestern Sacramento Valley of California at high spatial resolution. In the sandy, oxic, ultramafic, Cr-rich Holocene alluvial sediment, Cr(III) is oxidized to Cr(VI), resulting in increasing Cr(VI) concentrations with depth up to 79 μg/kg. Oxidation is likely associated with μ-meter scale co-located Mn(IV)-oxides. Within the fine-grained Pleistocene sediments beneath the historic high water table (5–18 m), Cr(VI) concentrations decrease with depth to <30 μg/kg due to subsequent reduction. Patterns in Cr(VI) concentration parallel nitrate due to the similar depth of production zones, oxidation-reduction potential and geochemical behavior. Field evidence in the shallow profile also supports Cr(VI) production by enhanced Cr(III) dissolution due to nitrification-induced acidification and subsequent oxidation by Mn-oxides. From Cr(VI) and nitrate concentration gradients with depth through the vadose zone (∼20 m), we calculate field-based net production and removal rates, quantify vadose zone storage (156–1168 kg Cr(VI)/km2; 1 × 105–2.6 × 105 kg N/km2), and estimate export fluxes to groundwater (40–1314 kg Cr(VI)/km2/yr; 5–487 kg N/km2/yr). The framework we present for evaluating vadose zone geogenic Cr(VI) contamination highlights the compounding effects that vadose zone lithology and hydrology can have on solute production, accumulation, development of redoxclines, and subsequent distribution of redox sensitive elements in alluvial sediment and groundwater.

Motility of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 Allows for Nitrate Reduction in the Toxic Region of a Ciprofloxacin Concentration Gradient in a Microfluidic Reactor.

Subsurface environments often contain mixtures of contaminants in which the microbial degradation of one pollutant may be inhibited by the toxicity of another. Agricultural settings exemplify these complex environments, where antimicrobial leachates may inhibit nitrate bioreduction, and are the motivation to address this fundamental ecological response. In this study, a microfluidic reactor was fabricated to create diffusion-controlled concentration gradients of nitrate and ciprofloxacin under anoxic conditions in order to evaluate the ability of Shewanella oneidenisis MR-1 to reduce the former in the presence of the latter. Results show a surprising ecological response, where swimming motility allow S. oneidensis MR-1 to accumulate and maintain metabolic activity for nitrate reduction in regions with toxic ciprofloxacin concentrations (i.e., 50× minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC), despite the lack of observed antibiotic resistance. Controls with limited nutrient flux and a nonmotile mutant (Δ flag) show that cells cannot colonize antibiotic rich microenvironments, and this results in minimal metabolic activity for nitrate reduction. These results demonstrate that under anoxic, nitrate-reducing conditions, motility can control microbial habitability and metabolic activity in spatially heterogeneous toxic environments.

Differential Responses of Soybean and Sorghum Growth, Nitrogen Uptake, and Microbial Metabolism in the Rhizosphere to Cattle Manure Application: A Rhizobox Study.

In this study, we determined the capacity of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr. cv. Hoyoharuka) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench. cv. Hybrid Sorgo) to utilize different forms of nitrogen (N) in a rhizobox system. Seedlings were grown for 35 days without N or with 130 mg N kg-1 soil as ammonium sulfate or farmyard cattle manure. The soil fractions at different distances from the root were sliced millimeter by millimeter in the rhizobox system. We assessed the distribution of different forms of N and microbial metabolism in different soil fractions in the rhizosphere. There are no treatment-dependent changes in biomass production in the roots and shoots of soybeans, however, the ammonium and manure treatment yielded 1.30 and 1.40 times higher shoot biomass of sorghum than the control. Moreover, the depletion of inorganic N and total amino acids (TAA) in the rhizosphere was largely undetectable at various distances from the soybean roots regardless of the treatments employed. The addition of ammonium sulfate resulted in a decrease in the nitrate concentration gradient as the distance decreased from the sorghum roots. The addition of manure to the soil increased the N content in the sorghum shoots, 1.57 times higher than the control; this increase was negatively correlated with the concentrations of TAA in the soil of the root compartment. In addition, the application of manure simultaneously induced TAA depletion (i.e., the TAA concentration in root compartment was 1.48 times higher than that in bulk soil) and greater microbial activity and diversity in the sorghum rhizosphere, where higher microbial consumption of asparagine, glutamic acid, and phenylalanine were also observed near the roots. Our results are first to present the evidence that sorghum may possess a high capacity for taking up amino acids as a consequence of organic matter application, and microbial metabolism.

Benthic nutrient fluxes along the Laurentian Channel: Impacts on the N budget of the St. Lawrence marine system

Water column concentrations and benthic fluxes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and oxygen (DO) were measured in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Upper and Lower St. Lawrence Estuary (USLE and LSLE, respectively) to assess the nitrogen (N) budget in the St. Lawrence (SL) system, as well as to elucidate the impact of bottom water hypoxia on fixed-N removal in the LSLE. A severe nitrate deficit, with respect to ambient phosphate concentrations (N*∼−10 μmol L −1), was observed within and in the vicinity of the hypoxic bottom water of the LSLE. Given that DO concentrations in the water column have remained above 50 μmol L −1, nitrate reduction in suboxic sediments, rather than in the water column, is most likely responsible for the removal of fixed N from the SL system. Net nitrate fluxes into the sediments, derived from pore water nitrate concentration gradients, ranged from 190 μmol m −2 d −1 in the hypoxic western LSLE to 100 μmol m −2 d −1 in the Gulf. The average total benthic nitrate reduction rate for the Laurentian Channel (LC) is on the order of 690 μmol m −2 d −1, with coupled nitrification-nitrate reduction accounting for more than 70%. Using average nitrate reduction rates derived from the observed water column nitrate deficit, the annual fixed-N elimination within the three main channels of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and LSLE was estimated at 411 × 10 6 t N, yielding an almost balanced N budget for the SL marine system.

Identifying Pathways and Processes Affecting Nitrate and Orthophosphate Inputs to Streams in Agricultural Watersheds

Understanding nutrient pathways to streams will improve nutrient management strategies and estimates of the time lag between when changes in land use practices occur and when water quality effects that result from these changes are observed. Nitrate and orthophosphate (OP) concentrations in several environmental compartments were examined in watersheds having a range of base flow index (BFI) values across the continental United States to determine the dominant pathways for water and nutrient inputs to streams. Estimates of the proportion of stream nitrate that was derived from groundwater increased as BFI increased. Nitrate concentration gradients between groundwater and surface water further supported the groundwater source of nitrate in these high BFI streams. However, nitrate concentrations in stream-bed pore water in all settings were typically lower than stream or upland groundwater concentrations, suggesting that nitrate discharge to streams was not uniform through the bed. Rather, preferential pathways (e.g., springs, seeps) may allow high nitrate groundwater to bypass sites of high biogeochemical transformation. Rapid pathway compartments (e.g., overland flow, tile drains) had OP concentrations that were typically higher than in streams and were important OP conveyers in most of these watersheds. In contrast to nitrate, the proportion of stream OP that is derived from ground water did not systematically increase as BFI increased. While typically not the dominant source of OP, groundwater discharge was an important pathway of OP transport to streams when BFI values were very high and when geochemical conditions favored OP mobility in groundwater.

Changes in Benthic Denitrification, Nitrate Ammonification, and Anammox Process Rates and Nitrate and Nitrite Reductase Gene Abundances along an Estuarine Nutrient Gradient (the Colne Estuary, United Kingdom)

Estuarine sediments are the location for significant bacterial removal of anthropogenically derived inorganic nitrogen, in particular nitrate, from the aquatic environment. In this study, rates of benthic denitrification (DN), dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), and anammox (AN) at three sites along a nitrate concentration gradient in the Colne estuary, United Kingdom, were determined, and the numbers of functional genes (narG, napA, nirS, and nrfA) and corresponding transcripts encoding enzymes mediating nitrate reduction were determined by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. In situ rates of DN and DNRA decreased toward the estuary mouth, with the findings from slurry experiments suggesting that the potential for DNRA increased while the DN potential decreased as nitrate concentrations declined. AN was detected only at the estuary head, accounting for approximately 30% of N2 formation, with 16S rRNA genes from anammox-related bacteria also detected only at this site. Numbers of narG genes declined along the estuary, while napA gene numbers were stable, suggesting that NAP-mediated nitrate reduction remained important at low nitrate concentrations. nirS gene numbers (as indicators of DN) also decreased along the estuary, whereas nrfA (an indicator for DNRA) was detected only at the two uppermost sites. Similarly, nitrate and nitrite reductase gene transcripts were detected only at the top two sites. A regression analysis of log(n + 1) process rate data and log(n + 1) mean gene abundances showed significant relationships between DN and nirS and between DNRA and nrfA. Although these log-log relationships indicate an underlying relationship between the genetic potential for nitrate reduction and the corresponding process activity, fine-scale environmentally induced changes in rates of nitrate reduction are likely to be controlled at cellular and protein levels.

Denitrification, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium, and nitrogen fixation along a nitrate concentration gradient in a created freshwater wetland

Wetlands are often highly effective nitrogen (N) sinks. In the Lake Waco Wetland (LWW), near Waco, Texas, USA, nitrate (NO3−) concentrations are reduced by more than 90% in the first 500 m downstream of the inflow, creating a distinct gradient in NO3− concentration along the flow path of water. The relative importance of sediment denitrification (DNF), dissimilatory NO3− reduction to ammonium (DNRA), and N2 fixation were examined along the NO3− concentration gradient in the LWW. “Potential DNF” (hereafter potDNF) was observed in all months and ranged from 54 to 278 μmol N m−2 h−1. “Potential DNRA” (hereafter potDNRA) was observed only in summer months and ranged from 1.3 to 33 μmol N m−2 h−1. Net N2 flux ranged from 184 (net denitrification) to −270 (net N2 fixation) μmol N m−2 h−1. Nitrogen fixation was variable, ranging from 0 to 426 μmol N m−2 h−1, but high rates ranked among the highest reported for aquatic sediments. On average, summer potDNRA comprised only 5% (±2% SE) of total NO3− loss through dissimilatory pathways, but was as high as 36% at one site where potDNF was consistently low. Potential DNRA was higher in sediments with higher sediment oxygen demand (r2 = 0.84), and was related to NO3− concentration in overlying water in one summer (r2 = 0.81). Sediments were a NO3− sink and accounted for 50% of wetland NO3− removal (r2 = 0.90). Sediments were an NH4+ source, but the wetland was often a net NH4+ sink. Although DNRA rates in freshwater wetlands may rival those observed in estuarine systems, the importance of DNRA in freshwater sediments appears to be minor relative to DNF. Furthermore, sediment N2 fixation can be extremely high when NO3− in overlying water is consistently low. The data suggest that newly fixed N can support sustained N transformation processes such as DNF and DNRA when surface water inorganic N supply rates are low.

Analysis method for lipoproteins by high-performance liquid chromatography with sulfopropyl-ligand column and magnesium ion-containing eluents

We have developed a new analysis method for lipoproteins in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography using a sulfopropyl-ligand column with eluents containing magnesium nitrate. The magnesium ion anchors lipoproteins to the ligands on the column gel. Lipoproteins are eluted from the column with a magnesium nitrate concentration gradient and detected by postcolumn reaction using a reagent containing cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase. High-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and very-low-density lipoprotein were eluted in order from the column. The within-assay and between-assay coefficients of variation for cholesterol concentration in lipoproteins were 1.1–3.7 and 1.3–5.8%, respectively. The correlation coefficients between the values of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol obtained by the new method and those obtained by an enzymatic method using an automated chemical analyzer were 0.940, 0.979, and 0.909, respectively. The new method was successfully applied to the analysis of plasma lipoproteins of patients with hyperlipidemia.

Apparent and Measured Rates of Nitrification in the Hypolimnion of a Mesotrophic Lake

Three distinct phases were observed in the change of dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations in the hypolimnion of Grasmere. The second phase of decreasing ammonia and increasing nitrate concentrations was typical of the nitrification process. Observations on nitrate concentration gradients between surface sediments and the water column and experiments using the nitrification inhibitor N-Serve indicated the in situ activity of chemolithotrophic nitrifying organisms. Nitrification rates were estimated throughout the period of stratification by using the N-Serve and [C]bicarbonate uptake method. Comparison of the field nitrate concentrations with the predicted nitrate concentrations (from estimates of the nitrification rate) indicated that the method underestimated the true rate of nitrification. Possible reasons for this are discussed.

Rates of nitrification, distribution of nitrifying bacteria, and nitrate fluxes in different types of sediment from Danish waters

Nitrification rates, measured in different sediment types from Danish waters, are in the range of 0.3 to 1.4 mmol NO 3 - m-2 d-1. There is no signification between sandy and muddy sediments, nor between shallow and deeper stations. The extent of nitrification is probably limited to the zone of oxygen penetration, 1.5 to 5.5 mm. There are, however, nitrifying bacteria located in the anoxic sediment layers. There relative numbers were found by measuring the “nitrification potential” of the sediment. These potential rates (22°C) can also be used to calculate actual rates of nitrification, by adjusting to in situ temperature and oxygen penetration. These calculated rates agree with the actual measured rates of nitrification for a wide range of sediment types and may be used for the estimation of actual nitrification rates. Nitrate flux out from the sediment/water interface is in the range of 0 to 0.7 mmol NO 3 - m-2 d-1. There is no correlation between concentration gradients of nitrate across the sediment/water interface and the measured flux of nitrate. Approximately 50% of nitrate production is released to the water column. The remainder (0 to 0.35 mmol N m-2 d-1) may have been denitrified.

Nitrate and phytoplankton production in southern California coastal waters1

The transport of nitrate into the euphotic zone appears to be a major factor regulating the standing stock and production of phytoplankton in southern California coastal waters. The evidence is as follows. 1) The rate of photosynthetic carbon assimilation is proportional to the rate of nitrate assimilation and to the ratio of nitrate:total N assimilated. 2) The phytoplankton standing stock (g C·m−3) and its production rate are related to the depth of the vertical nitrate concentration gradient. 3) The chemical composition of the particulate organic matter, as the POC:PON ratio, is related to the carbon:nitrogen assimilation ratio of the phytoplankton. 4) Regenerated production, measured as ammonium assimilation, is proportional to the nitrate assimilation rate, implying parallel and concurrent increases in the production of heterotrophic microplankton and phytoplankton attending new inputs of nitrate into the euphotic zone. 5) The vertical diffusion of nitrate, when calculated from the vertical nitrate concentration gradients and nitrate assimilation rates, appears to give reasonable estimates of the vertical eddy diffusivity coefficient for nitrate.