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Denitrification associated with periphyton communities.

F J Triska1, R S Oremland

  • 1Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 94025.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|October 1, 1981
PubMed
Summary

Decomposing Cladophora periphyton produces nitrous oxide (N2O) through denitrification. This process is influenced by nitrate, oxygen, and light, with a daily rate of 45.8 µmol N2O/m.day.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Biogeochemical Cycles

Background:

  • Periphyton, particularly Cladophora, forms significant biofilms on stream beds.
  • Denitrification is a key microbial process in nitrogen cycling, converting nitrate to gaseous nitrogen forms.
  • Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas and an intermediate in denitrification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential for denitrification and nitrous oxide (N2O) production in Cladophora periphyton.
  • To determine the environmental factors influencing N2O formation by stream periphyton.
  • To quantify the diurnal denitrification rates associated with periphyton in a natural stream setting.

Main Methods:

  • Incubation of periphyton scrapings with acetylene (C2H2) to inhibit further reduction of N2O.
  • Addition of nitrate (NO3) and exposure to different atmospheric conditions (N2, air) and inhibitors (Hg, autoclaving, chloramphenicol).
  • Field experiments measuring denitrification rates under light/dark and aerobic/anaerobic conditions over a 24-hour period.

Main Results:

  • Cladophora periphyton produced N2O when incubated with acetylene, indicating denitrification.
  • Denitrification was enhanced by NO3 and inhibited by O2, autoclaving, and Hg, suggesting microbial enzymatic activity.
  • Photosynthetic oxygen production by algae in light inhibited denitrification; constitutive enzymes were indicated by chloramphenicol resistance.
  • The estimated diurnal denitrification rate was 45.8 µmol N2O/m²/day.

Conclusions:

  • Cladophora periphyton is a significant site for denitrification and N2O production in streams.
  • Environmental factors like nitrate availability and oxygen levels critically control periphyton denitrification.
  • Diurnal fluctuations in light and oxygen significantly impact the overall rate of denitrification in these ecosystems.

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