Ammonium oxidation by bacteria and archaea have functional implications for nitrification across a forested landscape

Abstract Ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) control nitrification in terrestrial systems. Soil pH and substrate availability (NH4+) can influence community composition, which may affect the contributions of these organisms to nitrification in forest soils. Using hig...

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Main Authors: Jennifer Wen, Rima Upchurch, Donald R. Zak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:Ecosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4958
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author Jennifer Wen
Rima Upchurch
Donald R. Zak
author_facet Jennifer Wen
Rima Upchurch
Donald R. Zak
author_sort Jennifer Wen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) control nitrification in terrestrial systems. Soil pH and substrate availability (NH4+) can influence community composition, which may affect the contributions of these organisms to nitrification in forest soils. Using high‐throughput sequencing, we identified the amoA of AOA and AOB from northern forest stands that occur across a natural gradient of nitrification, soil pH, and net N mineralization (i.e., NH4+ availability). Specifically, we investigated changes in relative abundance and community composition of AOA and AOB across a soil pH and net N mineralization gradient, and how turnover in community composition is linked to nitrification. We found that soil pH was a stronger driver of AOA and AOB relative abundance than was NH4+ availability. Generally, AOA and AOB turnover were positively associated with soil pH; however, some AOA taxa also displayed a negative association. Interestingly, the relative abundance of only a small number of AOA and AOB taxa was significantly associated with net nitrification rates. Our findings reveal that coexisting taxonomical groups of ammonia‐oxidizers in forest soils have diverse responses to environmental factors, which influence how ammonia‐oxidizer communities are structured, likely having direct implications for nitrification and the regulation of N cycling in forest systems.
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spelling doaj-art-648332cdeeb6454ca6f9741393fd33272025-01-27T14:51:34ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252024-12-011512n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.4958Ammonium oxidation by bacteria and archaea have functional implications for nitrification across a forested landscapeJennifer Wen0Rima Upchurch1Donald R. Zak2School for Environment and Sustainability University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USASchool for Environment and Sustainability University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USASchool for Environment and Sustainability University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USAAbstract Ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) control nitrification in terrestrial systems. Soil pH and substrate availability (NH4+) can influence community composition, which may affect the contributions of these organisms to nitrification in forest soils. Using high‐throughput sequencing, we identified the amoA of AOA and AOB from northern forest stands that occur across a natural gradient of nitrification, soil pH, and net N mineralization (i.e., NH4+ availability). Specifically, we investigated changes in relative abundance and community composition of AOA and AOB across a soil pH and net N mineralization gradient, and how turnover in community composition is linked to nitrification. We found that soil pH was a stronger driver of AOA and AOB relative abundance than was NH4+ availability. Generally, AOA and AOB turnover were positively associated with soil pH; however, some AOA taxa also displayed a negative association. Interestingly, the relative abundance of only a small number of AOA and AOB taxa was significantly associated with net nitrification rates. Our findings reveal that coexisting taxonomical groups of ammonia‐oxidizers in forest soils have diverse responses to environmental factors, which influence how ammonia‐oxidizer communities are structured, likely having direct implications for nitrification and the regulation of N cycling in forest systems.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4958ammonia oxidationammonia‐oxidizing archaeaammonia‐oxidizing bacteriaN mineralizationnitrificationsoil nitrogen cycling
spellingShingle Jennifer Wen
Rima Upchurch
Donald R. Zak
Ammonium oxidation by bacteria and archaea have functional implications for nitrification across a forested landscape
Ecosphere
ammonia oxidation
ammonia‐oxidizing archaea
ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria
N mineralization
nitrification
soil nitrogen cycling
title Ammonium oxidation by bacteria and archaea have functional implications for nitrification across a forested landscape
title_full Ammonium oxidation by bacteria and archaea have functional implications for nitrification across a forested landscape
title_fullStr Ammonium oxidation by bacteria and archaea have functional implications for nitrification across a forested landscape
title_full_unstemmed Ammonium oxidation by bacteria and archaea have functional implications for nitrification across a forested landscape
title_short Ammonium oxidation by bacteria and archaea have functional implications for nitrification across a forested landscape
title_sort ammonium oxidation by bacteria and archaea have functional implications for nitrification across a forested landscape
topic ammonia oxidation
ammonia‐oxidizing archaea
ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria
N mineralization
nitrification
soil nitrogen cycling
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4958
work_keys_str_mv AT jenniferwen ammoniumoxidationbybacteriaandarchaeahavefunctionalimplicationsfornitrificationacrossaforestedlandscape
AT rimaupchurch ammoniumoxidationbybacteriaandarchaeahavefunctionalimplicationsfornitrificationacrossaforestedlandscape
AT donaldrzak ammoniumoxidationbybacteriaandarchaeahavefunctionalimplicationsfornitrificationacrossaforestedlandscape