The Fate and Implications of Removal of Hydrothermally-Injected NH4+ from Plume Waters

在沉积物（瓜伊马斯盆地）和缺乏沉积物的海脊系统（胡安·德富卡海脊的奋进段），热液喷口排放出大量氨。 这种氨可能是一个重要的基板的化能无机自养生产的有机碳，但很少，如果有的话，注意力集中在理解这种水热衍生氨的地球化学。 出于这个原因，主要研究人员与佛罗里达国际大学的一位科学家合作，计划确定NH4+的去除率，并确定这种水热注入的NH4+中有多少是通过硝化作用氧化消耗的，而不是异养细菌的同化作用。将与夏威夷大学生物医学研究中心的一名科学家合作，确定在不断演变的热液羽流中相关硝化细菌的种群动态。 主要研究人员还计划评估NH4+氧化对热液羽流中有机碳生产的贡献。

High levels of ammonia are discharged from hydrothermal vents at sedimented (Guaymas Basin) and sediment-starved ridge systems (Endeavour Segment on the Juan de Fuca Ridge). This ammonia may be an important substrate for the chemolithoautotrophic production of organic carbon, yet little, if any, attention has been focused on understanding the biogeochemistry of this hydrothermally-derived ammonia. For this reason, the principal investigators working in collaboration with a scientist from Florida International University, plan to determine the rate of NH4+ removal and ascertain what fraction of this hydrothermally-injected NH4+ is consumed via oxidation by nitrification relative to assimilation by heterotrophic bacteria. In collaboration with a scientist from the University of Hawaii Biomedical Research Center, the population dynamics of the relevant nitrifying bacteria in an evolving hydrothermal plume will be determined. The principal investigators also plan to assess the contribution of NH4+ oxidation to organic-C production in hydrothermal plumes.