Articles | Volume 11, issue 21
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-6147-2014
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-6147-2014
Research article
 | 
13 Nov 2014
Research article |  | 13 Nov 2014

The fractionation of nitrogen and oxygen isotopes in macroalgae during the assimilation of nitrate

P. K. Swart, S. Evans, T. Capo, and M. A. Altabet

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AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision
AR by Peter Swart on behalf of the Authors (09 Sep 2014)
ED: Publish as is (30 Sep 2014) by Brian A. Bergamaschi
AR by Peter Swart on behalf of the Authors (30 Sep 2014)
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Short summary
The ratio of nitrogen-15 to nitrogen-14 of macroalgae has been termed the DNA of sewage. Higher amounts of N-15 have been suggested to indicate the influence of sewage-derived N. But what exactly does the ratio of 15N/14N record? We found that the nitrogen isotopic ratio was dependent upon not only the value in the water but also its concentration of nitrate. At low concentration there was little fractionation, but at higher values the uptake by algae left more of the N-15 in the water.
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