Denitrification by indigenous microbial populations of river water measured using membrane inlet mass spectrometry.
The major process that reduces nitrate levels in soils and water is denitrification, which converts nitrate and nitrite into gaseous forms of nitrogen, which are then released into the atmosphere. This study used membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) to investigate denitrification in river water bacterial isolates supplied with nitrate and succinate as an energy source as well as in the total population by provision of different carbon compounds to untreated river water samples. Substantial variation was observed in the gases detected with nitrogen, nitrous oxide and nitric oxide all being produced by one or more of the isolates. The indigenous river population as a whole was found to respond very differently to the addition of different carbon sources. Peak nitrogen levels differed by nearly 1 mmol 1(-1) and nitrous oxide by approximately 0.5 mmol 1(-1) depending on which carbon source was supplied. Nitric oxide was only detected when glycerol was supplied as the carbon source. These results demonstrate the complex interactions involved in nitrogen cycling and suggest that with careful management it may be possible to stimulate particular consortia of micro-organisms to reduce more nitrate to harmless nitrogen rather than nitrous oxide, a known greenhouse gas.
Firth
J R
JR
School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK. jfirth@liverpool.ac.uk
Edwards
C
C
D000333:Aeromonas / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D019802:Succinic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism; D006113:United Kingdom; D014733:Vibrio / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D003470:Culture Media; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013395:Sucrose; D019802:Succinic Acid; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D009584:Nitrogen