Anaerobic ammonium oxidation is a major N-sink in aquifer systems around the world.
Shanyun WangGuibing ZhuLinjie ZhuangYixiao LiLu LiuGaute LavikMichael BergSitong LiuXi-En LongJianhua GuoMike S M JettenMarcel M M KuypersFangbai LiLorenz SchwarkChengqing YinPublished in: The ISME journal (2019)
Global-scale N-oxide contamination of groundwater within aquifers occurs due to the widespread use of N-bearing fertilizers and chemicals, threatening both human and environmental health. However, the conversion of these pollutants in active nitrogen (N) cycling processes in the subsurface biosphere still remains unclear. This study investigates the global occurrence of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) in aquifers, where anammox was found to be turned on and off between saturated and unsaturated soil horizons, and contributed 36.8-79.5% to N loss in saturated soil horizons, the remainder being due to denitrification which has traditionally been considered the main pathway for removal of N-pollutants from aquifers. Although anammox activity was undetectable in the unsaturated soil horizons, it could potentially be activated by contact with ascending groundwater. High-throughput pyrosequencing analysis identified Candidatus Brocadia anammoxidans as being the most abundant anammox bacterium in the saturated soils investigated. However, the anammox bacterial abundance was determined by the relative richness of Candidatus Jettenia asiatica. Isotopic pairing experiments revealed that coupling anammox with ammonium oxidation and respiratory ammonification enabled the formation of a revised N cycle in aquifer systems, in which respiratory ammonification acted as an important coordinator. Anammox can therefore contribute substantially to aquifer N cycling and its role in remediation of aquifers contaminated with N-oxides may be of global importance.
Keyphrases
- wastewater treatment
- heavy metals
- antibiotic resistance genes
- human health
- risk assessment
- drinking water
- high throughput
- microbial community
- health risk
- hydrogen peroxide
- ionic liquid
- public health
- healthcare
- endothelial cells
- mental health
- nitric oxide
- pulmonary artery
- sewage sludge
- single cell
- health risk assessment
- high intensity
- social media
- coronary artery
- visible light
- pulmonary arterial hypertension
- life cycle