Table 2 N2 fixation rates (nmol N2 cm−2 h−1) of investigated benthic categories in comparison with values reported from other coral reef areas worldwide acquired via acetylene-based assays. All N2 fixation rates were converted with a conservative conversion factor of 4:1 (C2H4:N2) according to Mulholland et al.157. Values are presented in mean ± SE.
N2 fixation | Location | Reference |
|---|---|---|
Turf algae | ||
0.57 ± 0.05 | Central Red Sea | Present study |
0.44 ± 0.04* | Northern Red Sea | Rix and others49 |
2.31 ± 0.09** | Northern Red Sea | Shashar and others59 |
Coral rubble | ||
0.48 ± 0.09 | Central Red Sea | Present study |
1.00 ± 0.25 | Great Barrier Reef, Australia | Davey and others75 |
0.58 ± 0.20* | Northern Red Sea | Cardini and other10 |
0.90–4.00 | Great Barrier Reef, Australia | Larkum76 |
0.74–5.70 | Great Barrier Reef, Australia | Larkum and other17 |
13.86 ± 4.11** | Northern Red Sea | Shashar and others59 |
Soft Coral (Xenia sp.) | ||
0.014 ± 0.004 | Central Red Sea | Present study |
0.003 ± 0.000* | Northern Red Sea | Bednarz and others48 |
Biogenic Rock | ||
0.098 ± 0.016 | Central Red Sea | Present study |
0.112 ± 0.038* | Northern Red Sea | Rix and others49 |
0.13 ± 0.01** | Northern Red Sea | Shashar and others59 |
Reef Sands | ||
0.046 ± 0.006 | Central Red Sea | Present study |
0.296 ± 0.067* | Northern Red Sea | Bednarz and others58 |
4.88 ± 1.38** | Northern Red Sea | Shashar and others59 |
Hard Corals | ||
0.005 ± 0.002 | Central Red Sea | Present study |
0.000–0.003 | Central Red Sea | Pogoreutz and others57 |
0.012 ± 0.003* | Northern Red Sea | Cardini and others10 |
0.016 ± 0.087 | Central Red Sea | Tilstra and others20 |
0.988 ± 0.211** | Northern Red Sea | Shashar and others59 |
