Denitrifying microbial communities along a boreal stream with varying land-use
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Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Aquatic Sciences |
| Volume | 81 |
| Issue number | 59 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 24 Jul 2019 |
| Publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Abstract
Streams have an important role in regulating nitrogen (N)
transportation from terrestrial ecosystems to downstream waters. Here, we
examined how catchment land-use affects potential denitrification rates and the
function and composition of denitrifier communities in boreal stream sediments,
using stable isotope incubations and qPCR and 454-pyrosequencing targeted on nirS, nirK
and nosZ genes. Although land-use
influenced the water chemistry as higher nitrite + nitrate (NO x − ) concentration at the
agriculture-affected sampling point, sediment organic matter content was found
to be the key factor in regulating potential denitrification rates. However,
the abundance as well as the diversity and community composition of
denitrifying microbes, and genetic N2O production potential (the
ratio between nirS + nirK
and nosZ gene abundances) were
connected to both NO x − and
sediment quality. Overall, our results suggest that catchment land-use-driven
changes in N and carbon availability affect the denitrification rates, and
possibly N2:N2O production ratio, in boreal streams,
through altering denitrifier abundance and community composition.