| Title | Environmental Adaptability and Roles in Ammonia Oxidation of Aerobic Ammonia‑Oxidizing Microorganisms in the Surface Sediments of East China Sea |
|---|---|
| Author | Wenhui Li1, Yu Zhen1,2,3*, Yuhong Yang1, Daling Wang1, and Hui He4 |
| Address | 1Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental and Ecology, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, People’s Republic of China, 2Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, People’s Republic of China, 3Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, People’s Republic of China, 4College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People’s Republic of China |
| Bibliography | Journal of Microbiology, 62(10),845–858, 2024, |
| DOI | 10.1007/s12275-024-00166-5 |
| Key Words | Ammonia oxidization · Archaea · Bacteria · Community structure · Sediment |
| Abstract | This study investigated the community characteristics and environmental influencing factors of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in the surface sediments of the East China Sea. The research found no consistent pattern in the richness and diversity of AOA and AOB with respect to the distance from the shore, indicating a complex interplay of factors. The expression levels of AOA amoA gene and AOB amoA gene in the surface sediments of the East China Sea ranged from 4.49 × 102 to 2.17 × 106 copies per gram of sediment and from 6.6 × 101 to 7.65 × 104 copies per gram of sediment, respectively. Salinity (31.77 to 34.53 PSU) and nitrate concentration (1.51 to 10.12 μmol/L) were identified as key environmental factors significantly affecting the AOA community, while salinity and temperature (13.71 to 19.50 °C) were crucial for the AOB community. The study also found that AOA, dominated by the Nitrosopumilaceae family, exhibited higher gene expression levels than AOB, suggesting a more significant role in ammonia oxidation. The expression of AOB was sensitive to multiple environmental factors, indicating a responsive role in nitrogen cycles and ecosystem health. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the biogeochemical processes and ecological roles of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in marine sediments. |