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Original Article
Diversity, abundance, and distribution of NO-forming nitrite reductase–encoding genes in deep-sea subsurface sediments of the South China Sea
Article first published online: 8 FEB 2013
DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12020
© 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Additional Information
How to Cite
Li, M., Hong, Y., Cao, H., Klotz, M. G. and Gu, J.-D. (2013), Diversity, abundance, and distribution of NO-forming nitrite reductase–encoding genes in deep-sea subsurface sediments of the South China Sea. Geobiology, 11: 170–179. doi: 10.1111/gbi.12020
Publication History
- Issue published online: 8 FEB 2013
- Article first published online: 8 FEB 2013
- Manuscript Accepted: 8 OCT 2012
- Manuscript Received: 22 FEB 2012
Funded by
- Environmental and Conservation Fund. Grant Number: 15/2011
- National Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Numbers: 41076095, 30800032
- South China Sea Open Cruise by R/V Shiyan 3
- South China Sea Institute of Oceanology
Abstract
In marine ecosystems, both nitrite-reducing bacteria and anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria, containing different types of NO-forming nitrite reductase–encoding genes, contribute to the nitrogen cycle. The objectives of study were to reveal the diversity, abundance, and distribution of NO-forming nitrite reductase–encoding genes in deep-sea subsurface environments. Results showed that higher diversity and abundance of nirS gene than nirK and Scalindua-nirS genes were evident in the sediments of the South China Sea (SCS), indicating bacteria containing nirS gene dominated the NO-forming nitrite-reducing microbial community in this ecosystem. Similar diversity and abundance distribution patterns of both nirS and Scalindua-nirS genes were detected in this study sites, but different from nirK gene. Further statistical analyses also showed both nirS and Scalindua-nirS genes respond similarly to environmental factors, but differed from nirK gene. These results suggest that bacteria containing nirS and Scalindua-nirS genes share similar niche in deep-sea subsurface sediments of the SCS, but differed from those containing nirK gene, indicating that community structures of nitrite-reducing bacteria are segregated by the functional modules (NirS vs. NirK) rather than the competing processes (anammox vs. classical denitrification).