Gene sequences suggest that the Group 1a Nitrososphaerota are ubiquitous with the oligotrophic surface ocean and can be found in most non-coastal marine waters around the planet.

This organism was isolated from sediment in a tropical tank at the Seattle Aquarium by a group led by David Stahl (University of Washington).

[6]  These archaea have also been found to change their membrane's composition in relation to temperature (by GDGT cyclization), growth,[8] metabolic status,[9] and, even if less dramatically, to pH.

[13] Using the 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate pathway method instead of the Calvin cycle, N. maritimus could provide a growth advantage as the process is more energy-efficient.

Due to its originality, N. maritimus plays an essential role in the carbon and nitrogen cycle[14] The isolation and the sequencing of N. maritimuss genome have allowed to extend the insight into the physiology of the organisms belonging to the Nitrososphaerota group.

This organism is common in the marine environment especially at the bottom of the photic zone where the amount of Ammonium and Iron is enough to support its growth.

It conserves energy for its vital functions, from the oxidation of Ammonia (NH3) and the reduction of Oxygen (O2), with the formation of Nitrite.

[16] N. maritimus carries out the first step of Nitrification, by acting in a key role in the Nitrogen cycle along the water column.

N. maritimus’s genome includes the amoA gene, encoding for the Ammonia Monooxygenase (AMO) enzyme.

Instead, the genome lacks the gene encoding for Hydroxylamine Oxidoreductase (HAO) responsible for oxidizing the intermediate (NH2OH) to nitrite.

The currently accepted taxonomy is based on the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (LPSN)[20] and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)[21] N. zosterae "N. ureiphilus" N. adriaticus N. maritimus N. piranensis "N. cobalaminigenes" "N. oxyclinae" N. piranensis Bayer et al. 2019 "Ca.

Populating poor environments (lacking of organic energy sources and sunlight), the oxidation of ammonia could contribute to primary productivity .

[32] Computing these two observations nitrification by N. maritimus plays a key role in the marine nitrogen cycle.