N-losses and nutrient regeneration in oxygen minimum zone waters with emphasis on micro-niches (B04)

• Subject Area: Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: from 2008 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 27542298

Oxygen minimum zones (OMZ) play a crucial role in regulating the availability of nitrogen (N) in the oceans and our results show a strong link between N cycling and organic matter export as well as co-occurrence of aerobic and anaerobic processes in OMZ waters. We hypothesize that micro-niches associated to strong gradients in O2, N and organic matter (OM) availability, e.g. in aggregate particles, constrain important regulation factors for the N-cycling in OMZ waters. By better defining the effect of O2, OM and N and viral lysis in relation to micro-niches, we aim to improve mechanistic and quantitative insights into the regulation of N-cycling processes essential to improve biogeochemical models.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 754: Climate - Biogeochemistry Interactions in the Tropical Ocean
• Applicant Institution: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
• Co-Applicant Institution: GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel; Max-Planck-Institut für Marine Mikrobiologie
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Hermann W. Bange; Professor Dr. Marcel Kuypers; Professorin Dr. Ruth Anne Schmitz-Streit