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Aquatic animals emit powerful greenhouse gas Jeremy Hance mongabay.com March 02, 2009 The researchers found that while numerous aquatic species emit nitrous oxide, the largest emitters are bottom and deposit feeders like snails, mussels, mayflies, midges, and clams. The cause of the greenhouse gas emission was found to be bacteria in the animal’s stomach that went through a process known as denitrification, in which nitrate becomes nitrous oxide,. The emissions are most present in aquatic environments with high levels of nitrate pollution from agriculture, such as lakes, streams, and marine coasts. Nitrate-heavy ecosystems are also dominated by bottom and deposit feeders. The continuing spread of agriculture in the tropics led the researchers to warn that they expect nitrous oxide emissions to become a larger issue in the tropics. Due to this they encouraged studies of the nitrous oxide emissions of aquatic species in the region. Certain ecosystems in the tropics, such as mangroves, already have a high output of nitrous oxide. The researchers believe their findings should “prove valuable for predicting the effect of local management of nitrate pollution”. They suggest two methods to curb these emissions of nitrous oxide: reducing nitrate pollution in aquatic ecosystems and removing excess bottom and deposit feeders so that the ecosystem is more balanced. The study looked at 21 species in seven different sites, including rivers, creeks, lakes and the seashore. CITATION: Peter Stief, Morten Poulsen, Lars Peter Nielsen, Hans Brix, and Andreas Schramm (2009). " Nitrous oxide emission by aquatic macrofauna " PNAS March 2, 2009 www.pnas.org_cgi_doi_10.1073_pnas.0808228106 Related articles Nitrogen pollution harming ecosystems and contributing to global warming (05/15/2008) Nitrogen pollution of the world's oceans is harming marine ecosystems and contributing to global warming, report two reviews published in the journal Science. Study reveals that nitrogen fertilizers deplete soil organic carbon (10/30/200) The common practice of adding nitrogen fertilizer is believed to benefit the soil by building organic carbon, but four University of Illinois soil scientists dispute this view based on analyses of soil samples from the Morrow Plots that date back to before the current practice began. Nitrogen emissions could sink plant diversity in species hotspots (04/11/2006) Rising nitrogen emissions from human activities -- such as fossil fuel burning and livestock farming -- may soon threaten plant species in some of the world's most biodiverse places according to researchers at the Universities of Sheffield and York. SHARE THIS ARTICLE:
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