Do diatoms prefer ammonia or nitrate?

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Won’t they just fix nitrogen from the air?

Diatoms cannot. Cyanobacteria can, but I do not know to what degree they do in a reef tank.

 

[sixty_reefer]

Diatoms cannot. Cyanobacteria can, but I do not know to what degree they do in a reef tank.

From what I reed Cyanobacteria will use atmospheric N2 to produce ammonia.

Quote:

Nitrogen fixation, the biochemical conversion of “inert” atmospheric N (N 2) to biologically available ammonia (NH 3), is a microbially mediated process of global significance because it provides “new” N to aquatic ecosystems in which biological production is often controlled by N availability 1, 2. N 2 fixation is an anaerobic process carried out by specific prokaryotes, including heterotrophic and chemolithotrophic bacteria and some cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)

source:

The cyanobacterial nitrogen fixation paradox in natural waters - PMC

Nitrogen fixation, the enzymatic conversion of atmospheric N (N 2) to ammonia (NH 3), is a microbially mediated process by which “new” N is supplied to N-deficient water bodies. Certain bloom-forming cyanobacterial species are capable of conducting ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This leads to believe like all other photosynthetic organisms that ammonia is the easiest to assimilate as it doesn’t require to be transformed.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

From what I reed Cyanobacteria will use atmospheric N2 to produce ammonia.

Quote:

Nitrogen fixation, the biochemical conversion of “inert” atmospheric N (N 2) to biologically available ammonia (NH 3), is a microbially mediated process of global significance because it provides “new” N to aquatic ecosystems in which biological production is often controlled by N availability 1, 2. N 2 fixation is an anaerobic process carried out by specific prokaryotes, including heterotrophic and chemolithotrophic bacteria and some cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)

source:

The cyanobacterial nitrogen fixation paradox in natural waters - PMC

Nitrogen fixation, the enzymatic conversion of atmospheric N (N 2) to ammonia (NH 3), is a microbially mediated process by which “new” N is supplied to N-deficient water bodies. Certain bloom-forming cyanobacterial species are capable of conducting ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This leads to believe like all other photosynthetic organisms that ammonia is the easiest to assimilate as it doesn’t require to be transformed.

Some cyano certainly can use N2, but the question is whether they do so in a reef tank that has measurable N in other forms that may be easier to obtain.I don’t believe that answer is known.

 

[sixty_reefer]

Some cyano certainly can use N2, but the question is whether they do so in a reef tank that has measurable N in other forms that may be easier to obtain.I don’t believe that answer is known.

That’s correct I just wanted to emphasise that the possible use of N2 is to create NH3 same as with NO3 that has to be reduced to NH3 to be useful.
there is many literature that shows that N2 and NO3 will be assimilate and converted to NH3.
If this organism are as lazy as me I would prefer NH3 instead of working.

what is also interesting to me is that in a reef tank that is depleted from No3 will not be depleted from NH3 as long as there is organic matter decomposing there will be NH3 being released into the water column. Giving a false interpretation that nitrogen is depleted.
Another thing worth nothing is that if NH3 is being used due to large blooms of nuisance, nitrifying bacteria won’t be able to oxidise it to NO3

unfortunately I can’t find paper to whom is faster at assimilating NH3

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That’s correct I just wanted to emphasise that the possible use of N2 is to create NH3 same as with NO3 that has to be reduced to NH3 to be useful.
there is many literature that shows that N2 and NO3 will be assimilate and converted to NH3.
If this organism are as lazy as me I would prefer NH3 instead of working.

what is also interesting to me is that in a reef tank that is depleted from No3 will not be depleted from NH3 as long as there is organic matter decomposing there will be NH3 being released into the water column. Giving a false interpretation that nitrogen is depleted.
Another thing worth nothing is that if NH3 is being used due to large blooms of nuisance, nitrifying bacteria won’t be able to oxidise it to NO3

unfortunately I can’t find paper to whom is faster at assimilating NH3

I agree that ammonia is the first stable product of nitrogen fixation in cyanobacteria.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Diatoms cannot. Cyanobacteria can, but I do not know to what degree they do in a reef tank.

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[Spare time]

@Spare time

this is another one

quote:


Plants absorb nitrogen from the soil in the form of nitrates and ammonium ions. Ammonium ions and nitrates are absorbed by the plants via their respective transporters.

Nitrate after absorption is transported to the leaves and gets reduced to ammonia. Further, ammonia is converted into amine groups of various amino acids.

Nitrogen Assimilation - NEET Biology Notes

Nitrogen is a constituent of important biomolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins and is essential for sustaining life. Learn more about nitrogen assimilation only at BYJU’S.

byjus.com

Thanks