Most oxidized and reduced forms of nitrogen?
Most oxidized: NO3-
Most reduced: NH4+
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN)
NO3 + NO2 + NH4
Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DON)
nitrogen is all organic forms
Total Dissolved Nitrogen (TDN)
unfiltered sample of kjeldahl N
Kjeldahl Nitrogen
organic N + NH4
Particulate Nitrogen (PN)
organic particles with nitrogen
Reactive Nitrogen
Everything but N2
Biologically perferred form of nitrogen
NH4 and NH3
Form of Nitrogen that is transient in anoxic habitants
NO3 (nitrate)
Heterocysts
Specialized cells in cyanobacteria that fix nitrogen in anaerobic environments but take O2 from neighboring cells
Form of nitrogen that can be used in place of oxygen in respiration
nitrate (NO3)
Redfield Ratio
Ratio of carbon:nitrogen:phosphorous in organisms or organic matter
Denitrification
process of NO3 becoming N2. N2O is a intermediate and can be released if denitrification is not complete. Happnens in anoxic environments
Nitrification
process of NH4 becoming NO3. Happens in oxic environments
Mineralization
process of organic N becoming NH4
Nitrogen fixation
process of N2 becoming organic N. Done by some bacteria and lightning strikes
Ammonia Oxidizing Bacteria (AOBs)
bacteria that help with nitrifiaction (NH4 –> NO3). They are not good at competing for nitrogen so they like low light and oxic environments with little competition
Most Mobile form of Nitrogen
NO3- (nitrate)
