Particle-associated denitrification is the primary source of N2O in oxic coastal waters

Xianhui S. Wan (), Hua-Xia Sheng, Li Liu, Hui Shen, Weiyi Tang, Wenbin Zou, Min N. Xu, Zhenzhen Zheng, Ehui Tan, Mingming Chen, Yao Zhang, Bess B. Ward and Shuh-Ji Kao ()
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Xianhui S. Wan: State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University
Hua-Xia Sheng: State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University
Li Liu: State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University
Hui Shen: State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University
Weiyi Tang: Princeton University
Wenbin Zou: State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University
Min N. Xu: Hainan University
Zhenzhen Zheng: Hainan University
Ehui Tan: Hainan University
Mingming Chen: State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University
Yao Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University
Bess B. Ward: Princeton University
Shuh-Ji Kao: State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract The heavily human-perturbed coastal oceans are hotspots of nitrous oxide (N2O) emission to the atmosphere. The processes underpinning the N2O flux, however, remain poorly understood, leading to large uncertainties in assessing global N2O budgets. Using a suite of nitrogen isotope labeling experiments, we show that multiple processes contribute to N2O production throughout the estuarine-coastal gradient, sustaining intensive N2O flux to the atmosphere. Unexpectedly, denitrification, rather than ammonia oxidation as previously assumed, constitutes the major source of N2O in well-oxygenated coastal waters. Size-fractionated manipulation experiments with gene analysis further reveal niche partitioning of ammonia oxidizers and denitrifiers across the particle size spectrum; denitrification dominated on large particles and ammonia oxidizers on small particles. Total N2O production rate increases with substrate and particle concentrations, suggesting a crucial interplay between nutrients and particles in controlling N2O production. The controlling factors identified here may help understand climate feedback mechanisms between human activity and coastal oceans.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43997-3

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