Diversity, community structure, and abundance of nirS-type denitrifying bacteria on suspended particulate matter in coastal high-altitude aquaculture pond water

Abstract Denitrifying bacteria harboring the nitrate reductase S ( nir S) gene convert active nitrogen into molecular nitrogen, and alleviate eutrophication in aquaculture water. Suspended particulate matter (SPM) is an important component of aquaculture water and a carrier for denitrification. SPM with different particle sizes were collected from a coastal high-altitude aquaculture pond in Maoming City, China. Diversity, community structure, abundance of nir S-type denitrifying bacteria on SPM and environmental influencing factors were studied using high-throughput sequencing, fluorescence quantitative PCR, and statistical analysis. Pseudomonas , Halomonas , and Wenzhouxiangella were the dominant genera of nir S-type denitrifying bacteria on SPM from the ponds. Network analysis revealed Pseudomonas and Halomonas as the key genera involved in the interaction of nir S-type denitrifying bacteria on SPM in the ponds. qPCR indicated a trend toward greater nir S gene abundance in progressively larger SPM. Dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and SPM particle size were the main environmental factors influencing changes in the nir S-type denitrifying bacterial community on SPM in coastal high-altitude aquaculture pond water. These findings increase our understanding of the microbiology of nitrogen cycle processes in aquaculture ecosystem, and will help optimize aquatic tailwater treatment strategies.