37
high biological productivity and biodiversity in this coral reef (and others), the
Odums speculated that N 2 fixation must be an important process which thrived in
otherwise nutrient-depleted ocean waters. This set the stage for the “Project
Symbiosis” study in the early 1970s at the same site which did a comprehensive
study of the N cycle and confirmed the Odums’ speculation (Webb et al. 1975;
Wiebe et al. 1975). N 2 fixation was also found to be associated with several macroalgae in tropical reef environments (Capone et al. 1977).
Shallow marine sediments, particularly those with rooted plants such as the
marsh grass Spartina alterniflora (Carpenter et al. 1978; Jones 1974; Patriquin and
McClung 1978; Van Raalte et al. 1974), tropical seagrasses such as Thalassia testudinum (Capone and Taylor 1977; Patriquin and Knowles 1972) and mangrove systems (Zuberer and Silver 1978) also received early attention by researchers exploring
the role of N 2 fixation in promoting the high growth and productivity of these systems. In parallel, several studies also examined shallow unvegetated sediment systems themselves (Herbert 1975; Patriquin and Knowles 1975).
3.4 Concluding Remarks
Studies of N 2 fixation in the oceans have evolved and greatly expanded over the last
century and a half. The infusion of new technologies and approaches (see Chap. 5)
have enabled the major strides which have been made. While there have been important discoveries and major changes in perspectives, many challenges yet remain in
order to fully understand and accurately predict the future trajectory of N 2 fixation
in the oceans, including detailed information on the organisms, interactions and factors controlling this process. The coming decades promise to yield exciting new
insights and yet more shifts in paradigms of marine N 2 fixation. Understanding N 2
fixation and its role in the N cycle of the oceans is critical for understanding and
predicting the effects of global environmental changes on the biology and chemistry
of the seas.
References
Ashby, S. (1907). Some observations on the assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen by a free living
soil organism.—Azotobacter chroococcum of Beijerinck. The Journal of Agricultural Science,
2(1), 35–51.
Aulie, R. P. (1970). Boussingault and the nitrogen cycle. Proceedings American Philosophical
Society, 114(6), 435–479.
Beaglehole, J. C. (Ed.). (1955). The journals of Captain James Cook on his voyages of discovery:
The voyage of the Endeavor 1768–1771 (Vol. I). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Beaglehole, J. C. (Ed.). (1962). The Endeavor journals of Joseph Banks 1768–1771 (Vol. II).
Sydney: Angus and Robertson.
References
high biological productivity and biodiversity in this coral reef (and others), the
Odums speculated that N 2 fixation must be an important process which thrived in
otherwise nutrient-depleted ocean waters. This set the stage for the “Project
Symbiosis” study in the early 1970s at the same site which did a comprehensive
study of the N cycle and confirmed the Odums’ speculation (Webb et al. 1975;
Wiebe et al. 1975). N 2 fixation was also found to be associated with several macroalgae in tropical reef environments (Capone et al. 1977).
Shallow marine sediments, particularly those with rooted plants such as the
marsh grass Spartina alterniflora (Carpenter et al. 1978; Jones 1974; Patriquin and
McClung 1978; Van Raalte et al. 1974), tropical seagrasses such as Thalassia testudinum (Capone and Taylor 1977; Patriquin and Knowles 1972) and mangrove systems (Zuberer and Silver 1978) also received early attention by researchers exploring
the role of N 2 fixation in promoting the high growth and productivity of these systems. In parallel, several studies also examined shallow unvegetated sediment systems themselves (Herbert 1975; Patriquin and Knowles 1975).
3.4 Concluding Remarks
Studies of N 2 fixation in the oceans have evolved and greatly expanded over the last
century and a half. The infusion of new technologies and approaches (see Chap. 5)
have enabled the major strides which have been made. While there have been important discoveries and major changes in perspectives, many challenges yet remain in
order to fully understand and accurately predict the future trajectory of N 2 fixation
in the oceans, including detailed information on the organisms, interactions and factors controlling this process. The coming decades promise to yield exciting new
insights and yet more shifts in paradigms of marine N 2 fixation. Understanding N 2
fixation and its role in the N cycle of the oceans is critical for understanding and
predicting the effects of global environmental changes on the biology and chemistry
of the seas.
References
Ashby, S. (1907). Some observations on the assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen by a free living
soil organism.—Azotobacter chroococcum of Beijerinck. The Journal of Agricultural Science,
2(1), 35–51.
Aulie, R. P. (1970). Boussingault and the nitrogen cycle. Proceedings American Philosophical
Society, 114(6), 435–479.
Beaglehole, J. C. (Ed.). (1955). The journals of Captain James Cook on his voyages of discovery:
The voyage of the Endeavor 1768–1771 (Vol. I). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Beaglehole, J. C. (Ed.). (1962). The Endeavor journals of Joseph Banks 1768–1771 (Vol. II).
Sydney: Angus and Robertson.
References