Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Comparison Of Bacterial And Archaeal Communities In The Subsurface Versus Surface: Implications For Nitrogen Cycling, Jason C. Kimble 5059801155
Comparison Of Bacterial And Archaeal Communities In The Subsurface Versus Surface: Implications For Nitrogen Cycling, Jason C. Kimble 5059801155
Biology ETDs
Arid-land caves are thought to be extremely nitrogen-limited, but almost nothing is known about how microbes in subsurface arid-land environments obtain this essential element to meet cellular demand. The depth of caves beneath the surface may represent a critical factor affecting microbial nitrogen cycling in these environments. Percolation of water and nutrients from a precipitation pulse event would affect deep arid-land carbonate caves at a much slower rate. To obtain nitrogen in deep, carbonate caves, microorganisms could use fixed N in the host rock for assimilatory biochemical pathways or for a respiratory electron acceptor. However, the latter process leads to …