In a significant win for the little guy, an obscure member of an ancient group of organisms was recently discovered to be a primary mover and shaker in the processing of nitrogen worldwide. Once considered to be an insignificant player in oceanic processes, the strain known as Nitrosopumilus maritimus has demonstrated the ability to outcompete newer, larger species in the hunt for ammonia. In results recently published in Nature, University of Washington researchers describe how the tiny creatures, members of the ancient biological domain known as "archaea", are not only voracious consumers of nitrogen, they also are far more widespread than once believed. Capable of surviving and growing in even trace concentrations of ammonia, archaea range everywhere from deep ocean areas to the more bountiful shallow depths, competing -- and succeeding -- through both feast and famine.

Besides broadening our understanding of Earth's underlying chemical processes, consequences for this discovery could include improved fertilization techniques, sewage treatment advances, and more robust global climate models.

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