By detecting the molecular machinery used by the plankton to create one of the enzymes needed to split nitrogen molecules apart, scientists appear to have discovered a new microbial source of the ocean's nitrogen - bearing nutrients. (sciencenews.org)
They validated their method by comparing it to about 40 other methods of microbial source tracking in a California study. (sciencedaily.com)
Recently emitted bioaerosols potentially represent a distinct microbial source pool if they contain bacterial taxa that are unable to persist in desiccated dust or on surfaces, and therefore might not be otherwise detected. (peerj.com)