Oxygen intrusions sustain aerobic nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in anoxic marine zones

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Buchanan, Pearse J.; Sun, Xin; Weissman, J. L.; McCoy, Daniel; Bianchi, Daniele; Zakem, Emily J.
• 署名单位: Carnegie Institution for Science; Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); CSIRO Environment; City University of New York (CUNY) System; City College of New York (CUNY); State University of New York (SUNY) System; Stony Brook University; State University of New York (SUNY) System; Stony Brook University; University of California System; University of California Los Angeles
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-12589
• DOI: 10.1126/science.ado0742
• 发表日期: 2025-06-05
• 页码: 1069-1074
• 关键词: tropical north pacific; ammonia oxidation-kinetics; minimum zone; sp nov.; sar11 bacteria; nitrogen-cycle; south-pacific; gen. nov.; rates; nitrification

摘要

Anaerobic metabolisms are thought to dominate nitrogen cycling in anoxic marine zones (AMZs). However, thriving populations of aerobic nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) in AMZs challenge this assumption and remain unexplained. Using theory and modeling, we show how periodic oxygen intrusions sustain aerobic NOB in AMZs alongside more competitive aerobic heterotrophs. Ecological theory, supported by numerical simulations and genomics, frames NOB as opportunists exploiting a fleeting supply of oxygen. Consistent with in situ observations, simulated NOB contribute substantially to total oxygen consumption at AMZ boundaries, which implies that NOB may provide a major stabilizing feedback to AMZs. Fine-scale ocean currents increase the metabolic diversity in AMZs, which could stabilize AMZ volume under climate change.