36 research outputs found
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An Examination of Factors Controlling the Activity of Ammonia- and Nitrite-oxidizers in Diverse Soils
Nitrification is a critical step in the global nitrogen cycle involving the biological oxidation of ammonia (NH₃) to nitrite (NO₂⁻ ) and then to nitrate (NO₃⁻). The first step in nitrification is carried out by NH₃-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), and the second by NO₂⁻-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). In addition to NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻ being products of nitrification, nitrous oxide (N₂O) can also be a by-product of NH₃ oxidation. Despite the importance of nitrification in agriculture, wastewater treatment, and greenhouse gas accumulation, much remains unknown about the factors controlling nitrification activity, particularly in soils. In the studies presented here, I examined factors controlling the relative contributions of AOA and AOB to nitrification activity. A survey of cropped and non-cropped soils from diverse regions of Oregon showed that AOB activity was more responsive to NH₄⁺ additions in cropped soils than was AOA activity, whereas the opposite situation occurred in non-cropped soils. A larger addition of NH₄⁺ was required to stimulate nitrification in cropped soils than in non-cropped soils (67 and 16 mg N kg soil respectively), and summer sampled soils had greater nitrifying activity than winter sampled soils. Upon further examination of the nitrifying response of non-cropped soils to NH₄⁺ addition, both AOA and AOB-driven activities gave rise to NO₂⁻ accumulation and was accompanied by N₂O formation. Nitrite additions to these soils stimulated acetylene-sensitive N₂O production, and a positive, non-linear relationship was revealed between the concentration of accumulated NO₂⁻ and N₂O production rates. Additions of the NO₂⁻ oxidizing bacterium, Nitrobacter vulgaris, to either prevent NO₂⁻ accumulation, or to remove accumulated NO₂⁻, effectively eliminated N₂O formation in two of three soils. Additional investigation showed that the dynamic nature of NO₂⁻ accumulation was driven by shifts in the kinetic properties of soil NO₂⁻ oxidizing activity. Although no significant changes were detected in population size of NOB during the 48 h experiments, an increase in the maximum rate of NO₂⁻ oxidizing capacity (apparent V[subscript max]) was detected in the three soils and proven to be protein synthesis dependent in two of the three soil. When protein synthesis and V[subscript max] increase was prevented by addition of antibiotics, the rate of NO₃- production also increased in response to the increase in the NO₂⁻ concentrations; suggesting that both protein synthesis dependent and independent mechanisms can be used to attempt to recouple the rate of NH₃ oxidation to NO₂⁻ oxidation. Recoupling occurred in all three soils, and was attributed to protein synthesis in two of the three soils, while protein synthesis independent recoupling occurred in one soil. Significant statistical interactions were detected among the soils, indicating that unknown soil properties and environmental factors, as well as metabolic properties of AOA, AOB, and NOB, are interlinked in these phenomena
Newly-Discovered Planets Orbiting HD~5319, HD~11506, HD~75784 and HD~10442 from the N2K Consortium
Initially designed to discover short-period planets, the N2K campaign has
since evolved to discover new worlds at large separations from their host
stars. Detecting such worlds will help determine the giant planet occurrence at
semi-major axes beyond the ice line, where gas giants are thought to mostly
form. Here we report four newly-discovered gas giant planets (with minimum
masses ranging from 0.4 to 2.1 MJup) orbiting stars monitored as part of the
N2K program. Two of these planets orbit stars already known to host planets: HD
5319 and HD 11506. The remaining discoveries reside in previously-unknown
planetary systems: HD 10442 and HD 75784. The refined orbital period of the
inner planet orbiting HD 5319 is 641 days. The newly-discovered outer planet
orbits in 886 days. The large masses combined with the proximity to a 4:3 mean
motion resonance make this system a challenge to explain with current formation
and migration theories. HD 11506 has one confirmed planet, and here we confirm
a second. The outer planet has an orbital period of 1627.5 days, and the
newly-discovered inner planet orbits in 223.6 days. A planet has also been
discovered orbiting HD 75784 with an orbital period of 341.7 days. There is
evidence for a longer period signal; however, several more years of
observations are needed to put tight constraints on the Keplerian parameters
for the outer planet. Lastly, an additional planet has been detected orbiting
HD 10442 with a period of 1043 days.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap
Star formation histories of dwarf galaxies in the FIRE simulations: dependence on mass and Local Group environment
We study star formation histories (SFHs) of dwarf galaxies
(stellar mass ) from FIRE-2 cosmological zoom-in
simulations. We compare dwarfs around individual Milky Way (MW)-mass galaxies,
dwarfs in Local Group (LG)-like environments, and true field (i.e. isolated)
dwarf galaxies. We reproduce observed trends wherein higher-mass dwarfs quench
later (if at all), regardless of environment. We also identify differences
between the environments, both in terms of "satellite vs. central" and "LG vs.
individual MWvs. isolated dwarf central." Around the individual MW-mass hosts,
we recover the result expected from environmental quenching: central galaxies
in the "near field" have more extended SFHs than their satellite counterparts,
with the former more closely resemble isolated ("true field") dwarfs (though
near-field centrals are still somewhat earlier forming). However, this
difference is muted in the LG-like environments, where both near-field centrals
and satellites have similar SFHs, which resemble satellites of single MW-mass
hosts. This distinction is strongest for but
exists at other masses. Our results suggest that the paired halo nature of the
LG may regulate star formation in dwarf galaxies even beyond the virial radii
of the MW and Andromeda. Caution is needed when comparing zoom-in simulations
targeting isolated dwarf galaxies against observed dwarf galaxies in the LG.Comment: Main text: 11 pages, 8 figures; appendices: 4 pages, 4 figures.
Submitted to MNRAS; comments welcom
Two Exoplanets Discovered at Keck Observatory
We present two exoplanets detected at Keck Observatory. HD 179079 is a G5
subgiant that hosts a hot Neptune planet with Msini = 27.5 M_earth in a 14.48
d, low-eccentricity orbit. The stellar reflex velocity induced by this planet
has a semiamplitude of K = 6.6 m/s. HD 73534 is a G5 subgiant with a
Jupiter-like planet of Msini = 1.1 M_jup and K = 16 m/s in a nearly circular
4.85 yr orbit. Both stars are chromospherically inactive and metal-rich. We
discuss a known, classical bias in measuring eccentricities for orbits with
velocity semiamplitudes, K, comparable to the radial velocity uncertainties.
For exoplanets with periods longer than 10 days, the observed exoplanet
eccentricity distribution is nearly flat for large amplitude systems (K > 80
m/s), but rises linearly toward low eccentricity for lower amplitude systems (K
> 20 m/s).Comment: 8 figures, 6 tables, accepted, Ap
Five planets and an independent confirmation of HD 196885Ab from Lick Observatory
We present time series Doppler data from Lick Observatory that reveal the
presence of long-period planetary companions orbiting nearby stars. The typical
eccentricity of these massive planets are greater than the mean eccentricity of
known exoplanets. HD30562b has Msini = 1.29 Mjup, with semi-major axis of 2.3
AU and eccentricity 0.76. The host star has a spectral type F8V and is metal
rich. HD86264b has Msini = 7.0 Mjup, arel = 2.86 AU, an eccentricity, e = 0.7
and orbits a metal-rich, F7V star. HD87883b has Msini = 1.78 Mjup, arel = 3.6
AU, e = 0.53 and orbits a metal-rich K0V star. HD89307b has Msini = 1.78 Mjup,
arel = 3.3 AU, e = 0.24 and orbits a G0V star with slightly subsolar
metallicity. HD148427b has Msini = 0.96 Mjup, arel = 0.93 AU, eccentricity of
0.16 and orbits a metal rich K0 subgiant. We also present velocities for a
planet orbiting the F8V metal-rich binary star, HD196885A. The planet has Msini
= 2.58 Mjup, arel = 2.37 AU, and orbital eccentricity of 0.48, in agreement
with the independent discovery by Correia et al. 2008.Comment: 12 figures, 8 tables, accepted Ap
A High Eccentricity Component in the Double Planet System Around HD 163607 and a Planet Around HD 164509
We report the detection of three new exoplanets from Keck Observatory. HD
163607 is a metal-rich G5IV star with two planets. The inner planet has an
observed orbital period of 75.29 0.02 days, a semi-amplitude of 51.1
1.4 \ms, an eccentricity of 0.73 0.02 and a derived minimum mass of
\msini = 0.77 0.02 \mjup. This is the largest eccentricity of any known
planet in a multi-planet system. The argument of periastron passage is 78.7
2.0; consequently, the planet's closest approach to its parent
star is very near the line of sight, leading to a relatively high transit
probability of 8%. The outer planet has an orbital period of 3.60 0.02
years, an orbital eccentricity of 0.12 0.06 and a semi-amplitude of 40.4
1.3 \ms. The minimum mass is \msini = 2.29 0.16 \mjup. HD 164509 is
a metal-rich G5V star with a planet in an orbital period of 282.4 3.8
days and an eccentricity of 0.26 0.14. The semi-amplitude of 14.2
2.7 \ms\ implies a minimum mass of 0.48 0.09 \mjup. The radial velocities
of HD 164509 also exhibit a residual linear trend of -5.1 0.7 \ms\ per
year, indicating the presence of an additional longer period companion in the
system. Photometric observations demonstrate that HD 163607 and HD 164509 are
constant in brightness to sub-millimag levels on their radial velocity periods.
This provides strong support for planetary reflex motion as the cause of the
radial velocity variations.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, accepted to Ap
The NASA-UC Eta-Earth Program: I. A Super-Earth Orbiting HD 7924
We report the discovery of the first low-mass planet to emerge from the
NASA-UC Eta-Earth Program, a super-Earth orbiting the K0 dwarf HD 7924.
Keplerian modeling of precise Doppler radial velocities reveals a planet with
minimum mass M_P sin i = 9.26 M_Earth in a P = 5.398 d orbit. Based on
Keck-HIRES measurements from 2001 to 2008, the planet is robustly detected with
an estimated false alarm probability of less than 0.001. Photometric
observations using the Automated Photometric Telescopes at Fairborn Observatory
show that HD 7924 is photometrically constant over the radial velocity period
to 0.19 mmag, supporting the existence of the planetary companion. No transits
were detected down to a photometric limit of ~0.5 mmag, eliminating transiting
planets with a variety of compositions. HD 7924b is one of only eight planets
known with M_P sin i < 10 M_Earth and as such is a member of an emerging family
of low-mass planets that together constrain theories of planet formation.Comment: ApJ accepted, 10 pages, 10 figures, 4 table
The NASA-UC Eta-Earth Program: I. A Super-Earth Orbiting HD 7924
We report the discovery of the first low-mass planet to emerge from the
NASA-UC Eta-Earth Program, a super-Earth orbiting the K0 dwarf HD 7924.
Keplerian modeling of precise Doppler radial velocities reveals a planet with
minimum mass M_P sin i = 9.26 M_Earth in a P = 5.398 d orbit. Based on
Keck-HIRES measurements from 2001 to 2008, the planet is robustly detected with
an estimated false alarm probability of less than 0.001. Photometric
observations using the Automated Photometric Telescopes at Fairborn Observatory
show that HD 7924 is photometrically constant over the radial velocity period
to 0.19 mmag, supporting the existence of the planetary companion. No transits
were detected down to a photometric limit of ~0.5 mmag, eliminating transiting
planets with a variety of compositions. HD 7924b is one of only eight planets
known with M_P sin i < 10 M_Earth and as such is a member of an emerging family
of low-mass planets that together constrain theories of planet formation.Comment: ApJ accepted, 10 pages, 10 figures, 4 table
M2K: II. A Triple-Planet System Orbiting HIP 57274
Doppler observations from Keck Observatory have revealed a triple planet
system orbiting the nearby mid-type K dwarf, HIP 57274. The inner planet, HIP
57274b, is a super-Earth with \msini\ = 11.6 \mearth (0.036 \mjup), an orbital
period of 8.135 0.004 d, and slightly eccentric orbit .
We calculate a transit probability of 6.5% for the inner planet. The second
planet has \msini\ = 0.4 \mjup\ with an orbital period of 32.0 d in
a nearly circular orbit, and . The third planet has \msini\
= 0.53 \mjup\ with an orbital period of 432 d (1.18 years) and an
eccentricity . This discovery adds to the number of super
Earth mass planets with \msini < 12 \mearth\ that have been detected with
Doppler surveys. We find that 56 % super-Earths are members of
multi-planet systems. This is certainly a lower limit because of observational
detectability limits, yet significantly higher than the fraction of Jupiter
mass exoplanets, %, that are members of Doppler-detected,
multi-planet systems.Comment: 11 figures, submitte to ApJ on Sept 10, 201
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Use of aliphatic n-alkynes to discriminate soil nitrification activities of ammonia-oxidizing thaumarchaea and bacteria
Ammonia (NH₃)-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and thaumarchaea (AOA) co-occupy most soils, yet no short-term growth-independent method exists to determine their relative contributions to nitrification in situ. Microbial monooxygenases differ in their vulnerability to inactivation by aliphatic n-alkynes, and we found that NH₃ oxidation by the marine thaumarchaeon Nitrosopumilus maritimus was unaffected during a 24-h exposure to ≤20 μM concentrations of 1-alkynes C₈ and C₉. In contrast, NH₃ oxidation by two AOB (Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrosospira multiformis) was quickly and irreversibly inactivated by 1 μM C₈ (octyne). Evidence that nitrification carried out by soilborne AOA was also insensitive to octyne was obtained. In incubations (21 or 28 days) of two different whole soils, both acetylene and octyne effectively prevented NH₄⁺-stimulated increases in AOB population densities, but octyne did not prevent increases in AOA population densities that were prevented by acetylene. Furthermore, octyne-resistant, NH₄⁺-stimulated net nitrification rates of 2 and 7 μg N/g soil/day persisted throughout the incubation of the two soils. Other evidence that octyne-resistant nitrification was due to AOA included (i) a positive correlation of octyne-resistant nitrification in soil slurries of cropped and noncropped soils with allylthiourea-resistant activity (100 μM) and (ii) the finding that the fraction of octyne-resistant nitrification in soil slurries correlated with the fraction of nitrification that recovered from irreversible acetylene inactivation in the presence of bacterial protein synthesis inhibitors and with the octyne-resistant fraction of NH₄⁺-saturated net nitrification measured in whole soils. Octyne can be useful in short-term assays to discriminate AOA and AOB contributions to soil nitrification.This is an author's peer-reviewed final manuscript, as accepted by the publisher. The published article is copyrighted by the American Society for Microbiology and can be found at: http://aem.asm.org/