Unveiling the contribution of particle-associated non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs to N(2) fixation in the upper mesopelagic North Pacific Gyre.

Dinitrogen (N(2)) fixation supports marine life through the supply of reactive nitrogen. Recent studies suggest that particle-associated non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs (NCDs) could contribute significantly to N(2) fixation contrary to the paradigm of diazotrophy as primarily driven by cyanobacterial genera. We examine the community composition of NCDs associated with suspended, slow, and fast-sinking particles in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Suspended and slow-sinking particles showed a higher abundance of cyanobacterial diazotrophs than fast-sinking particles, while fast-sinking particles showed a higher diversity of NCDs including Marinobacter, Oceanobacter and Pseudomonas. Using single-cell mass spectrometry we find that Gammaproteobacteria N(2) fixation rates were higher on suspended and slow-sinking particles (up to 67 ± 48.54 fmol N cell⁻¹ d⁻¹), while putative NCDs' rates were highest on fast-sinking particles (121 ± 22.02 fmol N cell⁻¹ d⁻¹). These rates are comparable to previous diazotrophic cyanobacteria observations, suggesting that particle-associated NCDs may be important contributors to pelagic N(2) fixation.