The marine nitrogen cycle

Complex cycle. Dominant form is the Nitrate ion, which is what phyt. eat. Some phytoplankton species can utilise organic nitrogen forms such as urea & amino acids. The oxidation of ammonia to nitrite and then nitrate is known as nitrification; the bacteria that carry out this process are nitrifying bacteria. The reverse process of forming reduced nitrogen compounds from nitrate is known as denitrification carried out by denitrifying bacteria.