Summary
Abstract. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microscopic phototrophs (“microalgae”) can synthesize the potent greenhouse gas and ozone depleting pollutant nitrous oxide (N2O). However, we do not know how much microalgae contribute to aquatic N2O emissions because these organisms co-occur with prolific N2O producers like denitrifying and nitrifying bacteria. Here we demonstrate for the first time that microalgae produce distinct N2O isotopic signatures that will enable us to fill this knowledge gap. The eukaryotes Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Chlorella vulgaris, and the prokaryote Microcystis aeruginosa synthesized N2O 265 – 755 nmol g-DW−1 h−1 when in darkness and supplied with 10 mM nitrite (NO2-). The N2O isotopic composition (δ15N, δ18O, and site preference, SP) of each species was determined
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