AUTHOR=Zhou Hongwei , Zhang Hao , He Xinping , Liu Cheng , Fozia  , Cui Qian , Yang Hongjun , Zhao Chunyu , Zhang Han , Hu Huanhuan , Zhang Zongxiao 

TITLE=Taxonomic and functional dynamics of nirS denitrifiers along a salinity gradient in the Pearl River Estuary

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1328684

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2024.1328684

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=This study explores the biological mechanism of the denitrification process in estuarine water, the diversity, biogeographic distribution, assembly processes, interaction, and denitrification potential of the nirS-encoding microbial community (nirS-type denitrifier) in the Pearl River Estuary based on high-throughput and metagenomics sequencing dataset. The results of this study show that salinity is a crucial regulatory environmental factor that determines the spatial distribution, phylogenetic turnover, and co-occurrence patterns of nirS-type denitrifiers. Additionally, the dissolved organic carbon (DOC), suspended sediment concentration (SSC), and dissolved oxygen (DO) in water also significantly impact the biodiversity and abundance of nirS-type denitrifiers. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that, in comparison to environmental factors, the ecological and evolutionary characteristics of nirS-type denitrifiers play a more prominent role in regulating their denitrification potential, suggesting that alterations in the microbial community within dynamic changes in estuarine water can profoundly affect its denitrification function. Our results indicate the significant roles of denitrification microbial structure and phylogenetic characteristics in maintaining their ecological functions.