Microbe Identification
A photosynthesizing microbe with a classic glass-like (opal) structure
Diatom
amplicons
~50%
This process turns atmospheric nitrogen into usable N
Nitrogen fixation
This is a beneficial partnership for all involved
mutualism
cyanobacteria
This tool sequences the expression of genes
Diatoms account for XX% of that oxygen production
~40%
This process takes oxidized N and returns it to dinitrogen gas
Denitrification
This is beneficial for one party and neutral for the other
commensalism
A group of phytoplankton that often forms toxins and can be both autotrophic & heterotrophic
This method sequences all the functional genes one organism has
genomics
This many virus particles are in the ocean
~one nonillion
(1+30 zeroes)
The phosphorus cycle is unique because of this property
no gaseous/atmospheric phase
This is negative to one party and beneficial to the other
parasitism
The most abundant photosynthesizing species in the global ocean
Prochlorococcus
This family of methods involves sequencing a whole community at once
meta-omics (metagenomics, metatranscriptomics)
This is the maximum ratio of viruses to microbes in the ocean
150 to 1
This process short-circuits denitrification (e.g., ammonium into N2)
anammox
competition
The most abundant heterotrophic bacterial group in the oceans
This newer technology allows higher resolution on sequence content by reducing gaps
Phytoplankton fix this much carbon annually
~30 to 50 million metric tons of C
This is a major human-contributed source of phosphates
fertilizer
One partner is harmed, the other is not affected
amensalism