Title | Environmental controls on denitrifying communities and denitrification rates: insights from molecular methods. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2006 |
Authors | Wallenstein, MD, Myrold, DD, Firestone, M, Voytek, M |
Journal | Ecol Appl |
Volume | 16 |
Issue | 6 |
Pagination | 2143-52 |
Date Published | 2006 Dec |
ISSN | 1051-0761 |
Keywords | DNA, Archaeal, DNA, Bacterial, DNA, Fungal, Genetic Techniques, Nitrates, Nitrogen, Soil Microbiology, Water Microbiology |
Abstract | The advent of molecular techniques has improved our understanding of the microbial communities responsible for denitrification and is beginning to address their role in controlling denitrification processes. There is a large diversity of bacteria, archaea, and fungi capable of denitrification, and their community composition is structured by long-term environmental drivers. The range of temperature and moisture conditions, substrate availability, competition, and disturbances have long-lasting legacies on denitrifier community structure. These communities may differ in physiology, environmental tolerances to pH and O2, growth rate, and enzyme kinetics. Although factors such as O2, pH, C availability, and NO3- pools affect instantaneous rates, these drivers act through the biotic community. This review summarizes the results of molecular investigations of denitrifier communities in natural environments and provides a framework for developing future research for addressing connections between denitrifier community structure and function. |
Alternate Journal | Ecol Appl |
PubMed ID | 17205893 |