Journal article
A global dataset of nitrogen fixation rates across inland and coastal waters
Limnology and oceanography letters, v 10(3), pp 412-429
Jun 2025
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Biological nitrogen fixation is the conversion of dinitrogen (N 2 ) gas into bioavailable nitrogen by microorganisms with consequences for primary production, ecosystem function, and global climate. Here we present a compiled dataset of 4793 nitrogen fixation (N 2 ‐fixation) rates measured in the water column and benthos of inland and coastal systems via the acetylene reduction assay, 15 N 2 labeling, or N 2 /Ar technique. While the data are distributed across seven continents, most observations (88%) are from the northern hemisphere. 15 N 2 labeling accounted for 67% of water column measurements, while the acetylene reduction assay accounted for 81% of benthic N 2 ‐fixation observations. Dataset median area‐, volume‐, and mass‐normalized N 2 ‐fixation rates are 7.1 μ mol N 2 ‐N m −2 h −1 , 2.3 × 10 −4 μ mol N 2 ‐N L −1 h −1 , and 4.8 × 10 −4 μ mol N 2 ‐N g −1 h −1 , respectively. This dataset will facilitate future efforts to study and scale N 2 ‐fixation contributions across inland and coastal aquatic environments.
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Details
- Title
- A global dataset of nitrogen fixation rates across inland and coastal waters
- Creators
- Robinson W. Fulweiler - Boston UniversityMegan E. Berberich - Michigan Technological UniversityShelby A. Rinehart - Drexel UniversityJason M. Taylor - National Sedimentation LaboratoryMichelle C. Kelly - Michigan Technological UniversityNicholas E. Ray - University of DelawareAutumn Oczkowski - Environmental Protection AgencySawyer J. Balint - Boston UniversityAlexandra H. Geisser - Boston UniversityCatherine R. Mahoney - Boston UniversityMar Benavides - Aix-Marseille UniversitéMatthew J. Church - University of MontanaBrianna Loeks - Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesSilvia E. Newell - University of Michigan–Ann ArborMalin Olofsson - Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesJimmy C. Oppong - Charles UniversitySarah S. Roley - Washington State UniversityCarmella Vizza - Hawaii Pacific UniversitySamuel T. Wilson - Newcastle UniversityPeter M. Groffman - The Graduate Center, CUNYJ. Thad Scott - Baylor UniversityAmy M. Marcarelli - Michigan Technological University
- Publication Details
- Limnology and oceanography letters, v 10(3), pp 412-429
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 18
- Grant note
- Rhode Island Sea Grant, University of Rhode Island: 2015825 National Science FoundationRhode Island Sea Grant
We thank all the scientists whose data are included in this dataset; without them, this project would not be possible. We thank Lance Simpson at The University of Alabama Libraries for providing resources and methodological advice. We thank the Department of Earth and Environment at Boston University for enabling us to host our first RCN workshop. Special thanks to Fred George and Lauren Consalvo who helped us with workshop logistics. We thank Emily Stanley for helpful and assuring guidance throughout this process. We thank Vera Farcus for her unfailing support. We thank Nia Bartolucci, Lena Champlin, Sophia Glastein, and Melissa Hagy in the Fulweiler Lab at Boston University for helpful comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (award number 2015825 to J. Thad Scott, Amy Marcarelli, and Robinson W. Fulweiler). This work was also partially supported by a grant from Rhode Island Sea Grant to RWF.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001445011600001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85215695859
- Other Identifier
- 991022024211504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Limnology
- Marine & Freshwater Biology
- Oceanography