Nitrogen Metabolism Genes from Temperate Marine Sediments

Autor(en)
Carolina Reyes, Dominik Schneider, Andrea Thürmer, Marko Lipka, Michael Böttcher, Michael Friedrich
Abstrakt

In this study, we analysed metagenomes along with biogeochemical profiles from Skagerrak (SK) and Bothnian Bay (BB) sediments, to trace the prevailing nitrogen pathways. NO3− was present in the top 5 cm below the sediment-water interface at both sites. NH4+ increased with depth below 5 cm where it overlapped with the NO3− zone. Steady-state modelling of NO3− and NH4+ porewater profiles indicates zones of net nitrogen species transformations. Bacterial protease and hydratase genes appeared to make up the bulk of total ammonification genes. Genes involved in ammonia oxidation (amo, hao), denitrification (nir, nor), dissimilatory NO3− reduction to NH4+ (nfr and otr) and in both of the latter two pathways (nar, nap) were also present. Results show ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) are similarly abundant in both sediments. Also, denitrification genes appeared more abundant than DNRA genes. 16S rRNA gene analysis showed that the relative abundance of the nitrifying group Nitrosopumilales and other groups involved in nitrification and denitrification (Nitrobacter, Nitrosomonas, Nitrospira, Nitrosococcus and Nitrosomonas) appeared less abundant in SK sediments compared to BB sediments. Beggiatoa and Thiothrix 16S rRNA genes were also present, suggesting chemolithoautotrophic NO3− reduction to NO2− or NH4+ as a possible pathway. Our results show the metabolic potential for ammonification, nitrification, DNRA and denitrification activities in North Sea and Baltic Sea sediments.

Organisation(en)
Externe Organisation(en)
Universität Bremen, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Leibniz-Institut für Ostseeforschung
Journal
Marine Biotechnology
Band
19
Seiten
175-190
Anzahl der Seiten
16
ISSN
1436-2228
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-017-9741-0
Publikationsdatum
2017
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ÖFOS 2012
105904 Umweltforschung, 106022 Mikrobiologie
Schlagwörter
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Aquatic Science, Biotechnology
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 14 – Leben unter Wasser
Link zum Portal
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/a325f085-9b7b-46bf-81ab-cd6ab29d6830