Title: Distribution and characterisation of nitrogen-utilising bacteria in a eutrophic shallow lake in eastern China

Authors: Gen-Fu Wu, Xue-Ping Zhou

Addresses: College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310012, China. ' Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, China

Abstract: To elucidate the roles of microorganisms in the nitrogen geo-chemical cycle, the distributions of nitrogen-utilising bacteria were studied in a small eutrophic lake. Ammonifiers, nitrogen fixers and nitrate reducers were more concentrated at the severely polluted Xili sub-area than at the Centre of Outer (CO), whereas the contrary was true for autolithotrophic nitrifiers. Molecular identification of predominant ammonifiers and nitrogen fixers showed that two of the ammonifiers were γ-Proteobacteria, two were β-Proteobacteria, one was CFB group and the other three were low G+C% Gram positive Bacillus. Among four nitrogen fixers, one belonged to α-Proteobacteria, and the other three were γ-Proteobacteria.

Keywords: eutrophic lakes; nitrogen fixers; ammonifiers; ammonium oxidisers; nitrite oxidisers; nitrate reducers; denitrifiers; 16S rDNA China; microorganisms; nitrogen geo-chemical cycle; bacteria.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2008.016901

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2008 Vol.32 No.1, pp.90 - 103

Published online: 28 Jan 2008 *

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