Microbiological and Chemical Studies in the Seas of Hiuchi and Bingo-II

On the Metabolic Activities of Inorganic Nitrogen Compounds by the Microorganisms as a Whole

Abstract

The distribution of inorganic nitrogen compounds and the metabolic rates of these compounds by microorganisms as a whole were investigated in the Seas of Hiuchi and Bingo.
The results obtained are as follows:
1. Of inorganic nitrogen compounds, the contents in sea water, those in bottom muds, the uptake or liberation rates of microorganisms as a whole in sea water, and the liberation rates from bottom muds to sea water are 0.2-4.0μg at.N/l, 3-60μg at.N/100g, 0.01-0.5μg at.N//lhr, and 0.3-1.9μg at.N/100 cm²/hr, respectively, and these contents or rates of ammonia usually are the largest of these inorganic nitrogen compounds.
2. From the above-mentioned results and the others, it is suggested that the nitrogen in the seas circulates mainly in sea water itself and the course of nitrogen cycle, which passes through bottom muds, is not so important, and further that, of the cycle of inorganic nitrogen compounds, the main course is the course which ammonia is liberated from organic nitrogen compounds and it is immediately uptaked by microorganisms, and the course which it is oxdized to nitrate and the others are not so important.