Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2025

The Benthic Exchange of O2, N2 and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations
Published on: August 3, 2016
Nitrogen-cycling genes in oyster reefs and surrounding sediments: Relationships with environmental factors and
Giulia Filippini1, Ana B Bugnot2, Deepa R Varkey3
1School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.
Abstract:
To investigate nitrogen (N) cycling in oyster reef habitats along the East coast of Australia, we assessed N-cycling gene abundances in oyster shell biofilms and surrounding sediments, and explored their correlation with environmental factors and respective N rates. We found higher abundances of the denitrification gene nosZII in oyster shell biofilms, while there were not significant differences in the denitrification genes nirS and nirK between oyster biofilms and sediments. Additionally, oyster shell biofilms had a lower (nirS + nirK)/nosZII ratio, indicating a greater capacity for N removal and limited nitrous oxide release compared to sediments. Abundance of nirS, nirK, and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (nrfA) genes in sediments decreased with increasing content of organic material, suggesting the influence of large-scale environmental conditions. N-cycling gene abundances did not relate to N rates, emphasising the importance of investigating microbial genes to enhance our understanding of the N cycle in oyster reef habitats.
More Related Videos
08:05Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
Published on: October 7, 2020
09:49Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation
Published on: October 31, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
The Nitrogen Cycle
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
Carbon-dioxide Fixation
Primary Production