Volatilized Ammonia Supports Subterranean Ecosystems with Unusual Nitrogen Isotopic Signatures

作者：Mackenzie B. Best, Scott D. Wankel, Heather V. Graham, Jennifer C. Stern, Jennifer L. Macalady, Maurizio Mainiero, Stefano Recanatini, Sandro Mariani, Ilenia M. D’Angeli, Ilaria Vaccarelli, Daniel S. Jones · 发表于：Environmental Science & Technology · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1021/acs.est.6c00328 · 研究领域：Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy、Karst Systems and Hydrogeology、Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry

N values as low as -29‰, thereby confirming volatilized and trapped ammonia as the primary N source to cave wall biofilms and the extensive subsurface ecosystem they support. Airborne ammonia trapping represents a novel mechanism for biological N acquisition and provides abundant N for growth in an extreme subsurface environment that otherwise receives very limited nutrient input.