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Vertical distribution of nitrifying populations in bacterial biofilms from a full‐scale nitrifying trickling filter
Author(s) -
Lydmark Pär,
Lind Magnus,
Sörensson Fred,
Hermansson Malte
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2006.01085.x
Subject(s) - nitrospira , nitrosomonas , biology , biofilm , nitrobacter , nitrosomonas europaea , nitrification , population , nitrifying bacteria , trickling filter , ammonium , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , ecology , nitrite , environmental engineering , nitrogen , nitrate , effluent , chemistry , genetics , demography , organic chemistry , sociology , engineering
Summary Cryosectioned biofilm from three depths (0.5, 3.0 and 6.0 m) in a full‐scale nitrifying trickling filter (NTF) were studied using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). A large number of sections were used to determine how the biofilm thickness, structure and community composition varied with depth along the ammonium concentration gradient in the NTF, and how the ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite‐oxidizing bacteria (NOB) were distributed vertically within the biofilm. Both the biofilm thickness and relative biomass content of the biofilm decreased with depth, along with structural differences such as void size and surface roughness. Four AOB populations were found, with two Nitrosomonas oligotropha populations dominating at all depths. A smaller population of Nitrosomonas europaea was present only at 0.5 m, while a population of Nitrosomonas communis increased with depth. The two N. oligotropha populations showed different vertical distribution patterns within the biofilm, indicating different ecophysiologies even though they belong to the same AOB lineage. All NOB were identified as Nitrospira sp., and were generally more associated with the biofilm base than the surface‐associated dominating AOB population. Additionally, a small population of anaerobic ammonia‐oxidizers was found at 6.0 m, even though the biofilm was well aerated.

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