Dinitrogen fixation along the global freshwater ecospace
Bioconversion of dissolved dinitrogen (N2) into reactive forms is a central biochemical process in aquatic environments that often controls primary and secondary productivity, thus critically impacting geochemistry and “ecological health” along the spatiotemporal scales. Biological N2 fixation is catalyzed by a specific group of bacterial and archaeal prokaryotes termed diazotrophs. During the last decade, new studies have pointed out that even minimal N2 fixation rates can critically impact the eco-stoichiometry and microbial activity, due to the close ecological links between the freshwater and terrestrial ecospace. Yet, despite the potential importance of diazotrophs in freshwater ecosystems, there are still basic knowledge gaps; from the environmental factors that govern abundance, diversity and activity of freshwater diazotrophs to their lifestyle and N input from the streambed to the overlying water. Our recent research scope includes a global sampling plan. The sampling is done by research partners around the globe. The preliminary network includes 91 research groups from 68 countries and six continents. Sampling is done by a newly developed kit and handling protocol (available also at https://youtu.be/8vK6IF98Ab8) that includes items and procedures to analyze different freshwater environments for diazotrophs abundance, diversity and N2 fixation rates as well as nutrients, organic carbon and trace elements. Contact us if you would like to join our growing network.