Elucidating the Competition between Heterotrophic Denitrification and DNRA Using the Resource-Ratio Theory

) of the two species, and the dilution rate had significant impacts as well but mainly at low influent resource concentrations (e.g., <100 μM nitrate). The presented approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the parameters controlling microbial competition. The computational comparison between continuous and batch cultures could explain seemingly conflicting experimental results as to the impact of the COD/N ratio. The results also include testable hypotheses and tools for understanding and managing the fate of nitrate in ecosystems, which could also be applied more widely to other species competing for two shared resources.