Where Do Ocean Microbes With Nitrogen-Breathing Superpowers Live?

Abstract

<jats:p>All animals, including you, need oxygen to breathe. Many kinds of tiny microorganisms (microbes) also need oxygen. But some microbes have a superpower: they can breathe a different element called nitrogen! This means they can live in areas where there is no oxygen. But where are these areas? We wanted to figure out where these superpowered nitrogen-breathing microbes live in the ocean. In this article, we describe how we found a new way to estimate these areas. We made a map of the world that points out the areas in the deep ocean where nitrogen-breathing microbes are likely to live. Our work will help us to understand the role that nitrogen-breathing microbes play in the regulation of Earth’s climate.</jats:p>