Nitrogen release and its influence on anammox bacteria during the decay of Potamogeton crispus with different values of initial debris biomass

摘要

Aquatic macrophytes play a significant role in the nutrient cycle of freshwater ecosystems. However, nutrients from plant debris release into both sediments and overlying water if not timely harvested. To date, minimal information is available regarding nutrient release and its subsequent influences on bacterial communities with decaying debris. In this study, Potamogeton crispus was used as a model plant. Debris biomass levels of 0 g (control, J-CK), 10 g dry weight (DW) (100 g DW/m(2), J-10 g), 40 g DW (400 g DW/m(2), J-40 g) and 80 g DW (800 g DW/m(2), J-80 g) were used to simulate the different biomass densities of P. crispus in field. The physicochemical parameters of overlying water and sediment samples were analysed. The community composition of anammox bacteria in the sediment was also analysed using 16S rRNA genes as markers. The results showed that dissolved oxygen and pH dramatically decreased, whereas total nitrogen (TN) and NH4+-N concentrations increased in the overlying water in the initial stage of P. crispus decomposition. However, NO3--N concentration changes in the overlyingwater were more complicated. The concentrations of organic matter, TN and NH4+-N in the sediment all increased, but the rate of increase varied among the groups with different initial biomass levels, indicating that these physicochemical properties in sediment are significantly affected by debris biomass level and decay time. In addition, the order of anammox bacteria abundance was J-40 g N J-CK N J-80 g N J-10 g. Moreover, the community structure of anammox bacteria were simpler compared to that of J-CK as debris biomass level increased. The results demonstrate that P. crispus debris decomposition could affect the ecological distribution of anammox bacteria. Such influence clearly varies with varying amounts of P. crispus biomass debris. This information could be useful for the management of aquatic macrophytes in freshwater ecosystems. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.