Open AccessEnvironmental factors shaping the ecological niches of ammonia‐oxidizing archaea
Author(s) -
Erguder Tuba H.,
Boon Nico,
Wittebolle Lieven,
Marzorati Massimo,
Verstraete Willy
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
fems microbiology reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.91
H-Index - 212
eISSN - 1574-6976
pISSN - 0168-6445
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2009.00179.x
Subject(s) - archaea , ammonia monooxygenase , ecological niche , biology , ecology , ammonia , niche , ecosystem , microbial ecology , bacteria , thaumarchaeota , environmental chemistry , biochemistry , chemistry , genetics , habitat
For more than 100 years it was believed that bacteria were the only group responsible for the oxidation of ammonia. However, recently, a new strain of archaea bearing a putative ammonia monooxygenase subunit A ( amoA ) gene and able to oxidize ammonia was isolated from a marine aquarium tank. Ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) were subsequently discovered in many ecosystems of varied characteristics and even found as the predominant causal organisms in some environments. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the environmental conditions related to the presence of AOA and discuss the possible site‐related properties. Considering these data, we deduct the possible niches of AOA based on pH, sulfide and phosphate levels. It is proposed that the AOA might be important actors within the nitrogen cycle in low‐nutrient, low‐pH, and sulfide‐containing environments.