固氮施氏假单胞菌亚硝酸盐还原酶基因nirS转录特性及功能鉴定

【目的】研究固氮施氏假单胞菌(Pseudomonas stutzeri)A1501亚硝酸盐还原酶结构基因nir S的转录调控机制及其在反硝化过程中的功能。【方法】构建nir S-lac Z融合载体,利用三亲本结合法将其导入野生型A1501,通过β-半乳糖苷酶活性的测定,分析不同供氧状况、不同浓度的硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐对nir S基因表达的影响;同时将该载体导入rpo N突变株中,研究氮代谢调控因子Rpo N对nir S基因转录影响。通过同源重组方法构建nir S突变株,通过生化表型测定明确nir S在反硝化过程中的功能。【结果】启动子活性测定表明,nir S基因厌氧条件下高水平表达,是好氧条件下表达水平的4倍;nir S的表达受硝酸盐诱导,但不受亚硝酸盐的诱导;Rpo N突变株中,nir S的表达活性为野生型的1/4,nir S启动子未发现Rpo N的保守结合位点,表明nir S的表达受Rpo N间接调控。表型测定显示以硝酸盐为电子受体时Δnir S的反硝化能力降低了约20%;以亚硝酸盐为电子受体时Δnir S仅有微弱的反硝化能力,并且nir S的突变使得菌体在反硝化条件下利用亚硝酸盐的能力显著减弱。nir S突变提高了菌体在亚硝酸为电子受体的反硝化条件下的固氮酶活。【结论】A1501中nir S基因的转录受外界氧及硝酸盐的影响,同时受氮代谢Sigma因子Rpo N的调控。nir S在A1501菌反硝化过程中起关键作用,参与了亚硝酸盐的转化。     

设施菜田与棚外粮田土壤菌群和反硝化气体产生的比较分析

【目的】对比设施菜田与棚外粮田土壤菌群以及N2O产生模式的差异。【方法】采用变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)和反硝化功能基因(nirS,nosZ)方法分别比较两种土壤细菌群落以及功能基因类群丰度的差异,利用自动连续在线培养监测体系(Robot系统)测定两种土壤在好氧、厌氧阶段N2O等反硝化相关气态产物产生模式,分析N2O/(N2+N2O+NO)产物比。【结果】设施菜田与棚外粮田具有不同的土壤细菌群落结构,并且土壤细菌总量得到了显著的提升,然而两种反硝化功能基因(nirS,nosZ)丰度并没有显著变化。与设施菜田相比,棚外粮田有相对低的N2O积累量以及产物比,并且在厌氧初期气体产生模式有所不同。培养后铵态氮和亚硝态氮含量上升。【结论】设施菜田长期有别于棚外粮田的管理方式造成了土壤细菌群落的显著改变,增大了活跃微生物总量,造成土壤酸化,并导致N2O在气态产物中的比例升高。设施菜田土壤微生物进行了与棚外粮田不同的硝酸盐呼吸过程,异化硝酸盐还原成铵(DNRA)过程有可能贡献了两种土壤的部分厌氧N2O产生量。     

若尔盖高原湿地泥炭沼泽土亚硝酸盐还原酶（nirK）反硝化细菌群落结构分析

若尔盖泥炭湿地是世界少有的低纬度永久冻土湿地,具有高海拔、高紫外辐射、高有机质的特点。该区域N2O的排放量对全球气候变暖有重要影响。对若尔盖高原湿地泥炭沼泽土中的亚硝酸盐还原酶(nir K)反硝化细菌群落结构多样性进行分析,以期揭示该区域N2O释放的微生物调控机制。基于若尔盖高原湿地泥炭沼泽土的理化性质和反硝化活性(PDA),结合限制性酶切片段长度多态性(Restriction fragment length polymorphism,RFLP)技术、克隆文库及分子测序对该生态系统中的nir K反硝化细菌群落结构及多样性进行分析。反硝化活性测定结果显示:阿西地区麦溪地区分区地区,反硝化活性与土壤有机碳、总氮和丰富度呈显著正相关(P0.05)。Shannon-wiener多样性指数以阿西最高、分区最低。3个样品中共测序15条nir K基因代表序列,系统发育表明若尔盖高原湿地优势nir K反硝化菌群为变形门菌群。其中,阿西地区主要为α-变形菌门,麦溪地区主要为β-变形菌门,分区地区无法确定优势种群。冗余分析(Redundancy analysis,RDA)显示:有效钾和有效磷是影响nir K反硝化细菌群落结构的关键环境因子。本论文显示,若尔盖高原湿地存在着明显的反硝化作用,调控这些反硝化作用的nir K反硝化细菌多样性较高,且与土壤有效钾和有效磷密切相关。     

一株海水异养硝化-好氧反硝化菌系统发育及脱氮特性

【目的】确定一株分离自海水的异养硝化-好氧反硝化菌的系统发育地位并探索其脱氮特性和机理,以期为解释异养硝化-好氧反硝化机理以及改进海水养殖及废水的生物脱氮工艺提供理论依据。【方法】通过形态观察、生理生化实验和16S rRNA基因序列分析,鉴定该菌株;通过测定菌株在不同无机氮源降解测试液中的生长和脱氮效率,分析其异养硝化和好氧反硝化性能。【结果】经鉴定该菌株属于盐单胞菌属(Halomonas);最适生长条件为盐度3%、pH 8.5、温度28℃、碳氮比10:1,在盐度为15%的培养液中仍能生长;可以同时去除氨氮、亚硝酸氮和硝酸氮,24 h时对NH4+-N、NO2--N、和NO3--N的去除率可分别达到98.29%、99.07%、96.48%,3种形态无机氮同时存在时,会优先利用NH4+-N,且总无机氮去除率较单一存在时更高,说明该菌株可实现同步硝化反硝化。【结论】该分离自海水的异养硝化-好氧反硝化菌属于盐单胞菌属(Halomonas),在高盐环境中仍能生长,同时具有高效的异养硝化和好氧反硝化能力,能够独立完成脱氮的全部过程。     

分离于河口区芦苇湿地1株好氧反硝化菌的鉴定及其反硝化特性

【目的】筛选高效脱氮且N_2O释放量少的好氧反硝化细菌,并对菌株的反硝化特性进行研究,可为河口湿地富营养化水体的生物修复提供技术支撑。【方法】经BTB培养基初筛和反硝化能力测定,从辽河河口区芦苇湿地土壤中分离得到1株具有较高反硝化能力的好氧反硝化菌C3。经形态观察、生理生化鉴定和16S rRNA序列分析,对菌株进行鉴定。研究温度、碳源、pH及C/N对其生长量、反硝化能力及N2O释放的影响。【结果】筛选得到的高效好氧反硝化细菌C3,经鉴定属于假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas sp.)。反硝化特性研究结果表明,该菌最适碳源为柠檬酸三钠,在温度为30°C、pH为7.0、C/N为10时生长速率和脱氮效率最高且N_2O释放量较少。在此条件下,该菌在36 h内使NO_3~–由179.55 mg/L降至5.08 mg/L,脱氮率高达97.17%。该菌株在整个反硝化过程中中间产物N_2O的最大累积量较低,为0.22 mg/L。【结论】从湿地土壤中分离所得好氧反硝化菌C3为假单胞菌属的1个种(Pseudomonas sp.),该菌株在高效除氮和低N_2O累积方面均具有明显优势,对后续河口湿地富营养化水体治理具有重要意义。     

一株海洋好氧反硝化细菌的鉴定及其好氧反硝化特性

【目的】从处理海洋养殖循环水的生物滤器生物膜中分离到1株具有好氧反硝化活性的细菌(菌株2-8),并进一步研究了该菌的分类地位及反硝化特性。【方法】采用16S rRNA基因序列分析对菌株进行初步鉴定,采用好氧培养技术,探讨了碳源种类、起始pH、NaCl浓度、C/N、温度和摇床转速对菌株2-8好氧反硝化活性的影响。【结果】该菌株的16S rRNA基因序列与Pseudomonas segetis FR1439T(AY770691)的相似性最高,达到99.9%,因此初步鉴定菌株2-8属于假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas sp.2-8)。碳源类型和C/N对其好氧反硝化作用的影响最为显著,以柠檬酸钠为唯一碳源,C/N为15时脱氮效率最高,低C/N导致亚硝酸盐的积累;其好氧反硝化的最适温度和pH分别为30℃和7.5;菌株2-8在摇床转速为160r/min下脱氮效果最好;NaCl浓度对其反硝化活性的影响不明显。【结论】在初始硝酸氮浓度为140mg/L,以柠檬酸钠为唯一碳源、C/N为15、pH为7.5、NaCl浓度为30g/L,30℃以及160r/min摇床培养的条件下,菌株2-8在48h内脱氮率可达92%且无亚硝酸盐积累。     

Pseudomonas alcaliphila AD-28的脱氮性能及其关键酶活性

【背景】异养硝化-好氧反硝化菌由于能够同时实现硝化反硝化作用而备受关注,但由于菌的种类不同,其脱氮途径不尽相同,研究菌株脱氮关键酶的种类及其活性可以推测菌株的脱氮途径,从而为菌株在生产上的应用提供技术支撑。【目的】研究Pseudomonas alcaliphila AD-28的脱氮性能及其关键酶的活性,为菌株脱氮分子机理研究奠定基础。【方法】以柠檬酸钠为碳源,以硫酸铵、亚硝酸钠、硝酸钾为氮源,研究菌株AD-28的脱氮性能并检测其关键酶氨单加氧酶(AMO)、羟胺氧化还原酶(HAO)、亚硝酸盐还原酶(NIR)、硝酸盐还原酶(NAR)的酶活性。【结果】菌株AD-28培养24h的菌密度(OD600)可达1.971,对初始浓度为18.85mg/L的氨氮、26.13mg/L的硝酸盐氮、19.47mg/L的亚硝酸盐氮、66.11 mg/L的总氮去除率均达到96%以上;关键酶AMO、HAO、NIR和NAR的比活力分别为0.028、0.003、0.011、0.027 U/mg。【结论】Pseudomonas alcaliphila AD-28能同时进行异养硝化-好养反硝化作用,该菌在AMO作用下将NH4+-N氧化为羟胺,然后由HAO氧化为NO2--N,NO2--N和NO3--N在NIR、NAR等酶的催化作用下脱氮。     

硫化物抑制潮土反硝化过程中氧化亚氮还原的菌群机制

【背景】土壤中的反硝化作用形成气态产物N_2O和N_2,会导致氮素的气态损失,并造成温室效应。硫化物对土壤的N_2O还原具有抑制作用,但其对菌群和功能基因的影响机制还不清楚。【目的】研究有无外加碳源情况下,硫化物对反硝化作用中间产物(NO、N_2O)的积累、反硝化功能基因(narG、nirS、nirK和nosZ)表达量以及菌群结构的影响。【方法】分别设置不同量葡萄糖(0和1000mg-C/kg干重土壤)和硫化钠(0和150mg-S/kg干重土壤)添加的交叉处理,进行室内微宇宙培养实验,利用自动化培养与实时气体检测系统检测培养过程中NO、N_2O和N_2的积累量,通过反转录定量PCR测定反硝化功能基因表达量,利用MiSeq技术平台基于16S rRNA基因序列的高通量测序分析样品的菌群结构。【结果】硫化钠的添加显著抑制N_2O还原,但是其对于N_2O积累量没有显著影响,却显著降低了NO的积累量。硫化钠的添加短时间内在转录水平上显著抑制N_2O还原酶的活性,并且抑制固氮弧菌属(Azoarcus)、微枝形杆菌属(Microvirga)、剑菌属(Ensifer)、氮氢单胞菌属(Azohydromonas)、芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)、斯科曼氏球菌属(Skermanella)、申氏杆菌属(Shinella)和西索恩氏菌属(Chthoniobacter)的基因转录,降低它们的转录本丰度,结合Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes andGenomes(KEGG)数据库的查询结果,发现硫化钠的添加抑制了不产生N_2O的N_2O还原反硝化细菌的生长。【结论】堆肥或其他原因引起的土壤硫化物增加,导致反硝化过程N_2O还原被抑制的原因是由于其对氧化亚氮基因转录的抑制和对不同反硝化菌的选择作用,研究结果有助于认识硫化物对氮代谢影响的微生物机制。     

一株好氧反硝化菌的分离鉴定及其除氮特性

【目的】生物除氮中反硝化菌具有重要的作用,需氧反硝化菌研究较少,有着很好的应用潜力,本研究主要从环境样品中分离具有高效去除铵氮和亚硝酸盐氮活性的好氧反硝化菌,并对其分类及除氮特性进行研究。【方法】以高效去除铵氮、除亚硝酸盐氮和好氧反硝化能力为主要指标,从富营养化的池塘淤泥水和工厂污泥样品中进行菌株分离筛选。通过生理生化特点以及16S rRNA序列分析对活性最好的菌株进行初步鉴定。在好氧条件下,分别以NO-3-N、NH+4-N和NO-2-N作为唯一氮源,考察菌株的好氧反硝化特性、去除铵氮和亚硝酸盐氮特性,以及不同初始pH值、温度、碳源、摇床转速对该菌去除铵氮和亚硝酸盐氮特性的影响。【结果】得到的细菌中,以菌株C-4的活性最好,其16S rRNA序列与不动杆菌的同源性达99%,结合生理生化特点,初步确定菌株C-4属于不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter sp.)。以柠檬酸钠作为碳源,30℃、120 r/min振荡培养,种龄为18 h,用初始pH为8.5的200 mg/L NH +4-N培养基和初始pH为7.5的100 mg/L NO -2-N培养基进行测定,分别培养15 h与12 h,净除氮率分别达到65.8%和47.8%。【结论】从鱼塘水样中分离到一株好氧反硝化菌C-4,初步鉴定为不动杆菌属的一个种(Acinetobacter sp.),具有较高的反硝化特性和高效去除铵氮与亚硝酸盐氮的能力,在处理实际池塘污水时中,净除氮率可达73.04%以上。     

滇池可培养好氧反硝化细菌多样性及其脱氮特性

【目的】氮污染已成为当今水体污染的一个重要因素,为了解滇池可培养好氧反硝化细菌的多样性,获得高效好氧反硝化细菌资源,为污染水体或浅层地下水的生物修复提供材料。【方法】采用富集培养方法从滇池沉积物和水体样品中分离好氧反硝化细菌,对好氧反硝化细菌的16S r RNA基因序列进行系统发育分析,并筛选其中的高效好氧反硝化细菌。【结果】分离出260株好氧反硝化菌,经16S rRNA基因序列分析,260株菌分属于2门13科14属的59个种。假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)为优势细菌属,其次是不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter)、气单胞菌属(Aeromonas)和代尔夫特菌属(Delftia)。筛选到12株高效好氧反硝化细菌菌株,其中8株属于假单胞菌(Pseudomonas spp.),4株为不动杆菌(Acinetobacter spp.)。定量分析发现菌株N15-6-1的反硝化效果较好。对菌株N15-6-1的脱氮条件优化结果显示,在以蔗糖为碳源,温度为30–35℃、C/N=12、静止培养时,反硝化能力较强,其在48 h内硝态氮的去除率达到98.81%,总氮的去除率达96.27%。【结论】滇池存在着较丰富的可培养好氧反硝化细菌,好氧反硝化细菌的分离丰富了好氧反硝化菌的种类,其中的高效脱氮菌株为污染水体或浅层地下水的生物修复提供了初步的候选菌株。     

Genetic characterization of denitrifier communities with contrasting intrinsic functional traits

Microorganisms capable of denitrification are polyphyletic and exhibit distinct denitrification regulatory phenotypes (DRP), and thus, denitrification in soils could be controlled by community composition. In a companion study (D?rsch et al., 2012) and preceding work, ex situ denitrification assays of three organic soils demonstrated profoundly different functional traits including N(2) O/N(2) ratios. Here, we explored the composition of the underlying denitrifier communities by analyzing the abundance and structure of denitrification genes (nirK, nirS, and nosZ). The relative abundance of nosZ (vs. nirK + nirS) was similar for all communities, and hence, the low N(2) O reductase activity in one of the soils was not because of the lack of organisms with this gene. Similarity in community composition between the soils was generally low for nirK and nirS, but not for nosZ. The community with the most robust denitrification (consistently low N(2) O/N(2) ) had the highest diversity/richness of nosZ and nirK, but not of nirS. Contrary results found for a second soil agreed with impaired denitrification (low overall denitrification activity, high N(2) O/N(2) ). In conclusion, differences in community composition and in the absolute abundance of denitrification genes clearly reflected the functional differences observed in laboratory studies and may shed light on differences in in situ N(2) O emission of the soils.     

Abundance, diversity and functional gene expression of denitrifier communities in adjacent riparian and agricultural zones

Lands under riparian and agricultural management differ in soil properties, water content, plant species and nutrient content and are therefore expected to influence denitrifier communities, denitrification and nitrous oxide (N(2) O) emissions. Denitrifier community abundance, denitrifier community structure, denitrification gene expression and activity were quantified on three dates in a maize field and adjacent riparian zone. N(2) O emissions were greater in the agricultural zone, whereas complete denitrification to N(2) was greater in the riparian zone. In general, the targeted denitrifier community abundance did not change between agricultural and riparian zones. However, nosZ gene expression was greater in the riparian zone than the agricultural zone. The community structure of nirS-gene-bearing denitrifiers differed in June only, whereas the nirK-gene-bearing community structure differed significantly between the riparian and the agricultural zones at all dates. The nirK-gene-bearing community structure was correlated with soil pH, while no significant correlations were found between nirS-gene-bearing community structure and soil environmental variables or N(2) O emissions, denitrification or denitrifier enzyme activity. The results suggested for the nirK and nirS-gene-bearing communities different factors control abundance vs. community structure. The nirK-gene-bearing community structure was also more responsive than the nirS-gene-bearing community structure to change between the two ecosystems.     

Community-specific pH response of denitrification: experiments with cells extracted from organic soils

Denitrifying prokaryotes are phylogenetically and functionally diverse. Little is known about the relationship between soil denitrifier community composition and functional traits. We extracted bacterial cells from three cultivated peat soils with contrasting native pH by density gradient centrifugation and investigated their kinetics of oxygen depletion and NO2 -, NO, N(2) O and N(2) accumulation during initially hypoxic batch incubations (0.5-1 μM O(2)) in minimal medium buffered at either pH 5.4 or 7.1 (2 mM glutamate, 2 mM NO3 -). The three communities differed strikingly in NO2 - accumulation and transient N(2) O accumulation at the two pH levels, whereas NO peak concentrations (24-53 nM) were similar across all communities and pH treatments. The results confirm that the communities represent different denitrification regulatory phenotypes, as indicated by previous denitrification bioassays with nonbuffered slurries of the same three soils. The composition of the extracted cells resembled that of the parent soils (PCR-TRFLP analyses of 16S rRNA genes, nirK, nirS and nosZ), which were found to differ profoundly in their genetic composition (Braker et al., ). Together, this suggests that direct pH response of denitrification depends on denitrifier community composition, with implications for the propensity of soils to emit N(2) O to the atmosphere.     

Changes in bacterial denitrifier community abundance over time in an agricultural field and their relationship with denitrification activity

This study measured total bacterial and denitrifier community abundances over time in an agricultural soil cropped to potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) by using quantitative PCR. Samples were collected on 10 dates from spring to autumn and from three spatial locations: in the potato "hill" between plants (H), close to the plant (H(p)), and in the "furrow" (F). The denitrification rates, N(2)O emissions, and environmental parameters were also measured. Changes in denitrifier abundance over time and spatial location were small (1.7- to 2.7-fold for the nirK, nosZ, and cnorB(B) guilds), whereas the cnorB(P) community (Pseudomonas mandelii and closely related spp.) showed an approximately 4.6-fold change. The seasonal patterns of denitrifier gene numbers varied with the specific community: lower nosZ gene numbers in April and May than in June and July, higher cnorB(P) gene numbers in May and June than in March and April and September and November, higher nirK gene numbers in early spring than in late autumn, and no change in cnorB(B) gene numbers. Gene numbers were higher for the H(p) than the H location for the nosZ and nirK communities and for the cnorB(P) community on individual dates, presumably indicating an effect of the plant on denitrifier abundance. Higher cnorB(P) gene numbers for the H location than the F location and for nosZ and cnorB(B) on individual dates reflect the effect of spatial location on abundance. Denitrifier abundance changes were not related to any environmental parameter, although a weak relationship exists between cnorB(P) gene numbers, extractable organic carbon values, and temperature. Denitrification and N(2)O emissions were mostly regulated by inorganic nitrogen availability and water-filled pore space but were uncoupled from denitrifier community abundances measured in this system.     

Disentangling the rhizosphere effect on nitrate reducers and denitrifiers: insight into the role of root exudates

To determine to which extent root-derived carbon contributes to the effects of plants on nitrate reducers and denitrifiers, four solutions containing different proportions of sugar, organic acids and amino acids mimicking maize root exudates were added daily to soil microcosms at a concentration of 150 microg C g(-1) of soil. Water-amended soils were used as controls. After 1 month, the size and structure of the nitrate reducer and denitrifier communities were analysed using the narG and napA, and the nirK, nirS and nosZ genes as molecular markers respectively. Addition of artificial root exudates (ARE) did not strongly affect the structure or the density of nitrate reducer and denitrifier communities whereas potential nitrate reductase and denitrification activities were stimulated by the addition of root exudates. An effect of ARE composition was also observed on N(2)O production with an N(2)O:(N(2)O + N(2)) ratio of 0.3 in microcosms amended with ARE containing 80% of sugar and of 1 in microcosms amended with ARE containing 40% of sugar. Our study indicated that ARE stimulated nitrate reduction or denitrification activity with increases in the range of those observed with the whole plant. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the composition of the ARE affected the nature of the end-product of denitrification and could thus have a putative impact on greenhouse gas emissions.     

过量施肥对设施菜田土壤菌群结构及N2O产生的影响

【背景】N_2O是一种很强的温室气体,其温室效应强度大约是CO_2的265倍。土壤氮肥施加量是影响N_2O排放的重要因素,而厌氧条件下微生物反硝化则是N_2O产生的重要途径。【目的】研究过量施肥条件下蔬菜大棚土壤菌群结构变化及其对N_2O气体排放的影响。【方法】利用自动化培养与实时气体检测系统(Robot)监测土壤厌氧培养过程中N_2O和N_2排放通量,比较过量施肥和减氮施肥模式下土壤N_2O排放模式的差异。通过Illumina二代测序平台对这2种不同施肥处理的土壤微生物群落进行高通量测序,研究不同施肥量对土壤菌群组成的影响。【结果】过量施肥土壤中硝酸盐的含量大约是减氮施肥土壤的2倍,通过添加硝酸盐使2种土壤的硝酸盐含量均为60 mg/kg或为200 mg/kg时,过量施肥土壤在厌氧培养前期N_2O气体的产生量及产生速度都明显高于减氮施肥土壤。另外,过量施肥导致土壤菌群结构发生显著改变,并且降低了土壤微生物的多样性。相对于减氮施肥,过量施肥方式富集了Rhodanobacter属的微生物。PICRUSt预测结果显示,传统施肥没有显著改变反硝化功能基因相对丰度。【结论】长期过量氮肥施用显著增加了土壤N_2O的排放,可能原因是施肥改变了包括氮转化相关微生物在内的土壤菌群组成,从而影响了土壤N_2O气体的形成与还原过程。     

Abundance of narG, nirS, nirK, and nosZ genes of denitrifying bacteria during primary successions of a glacier foreland

Quantitative PCR of denitrification genes encoding the nitrate, nitrite, and nitrous oxide reductases was used to study denitrifiers across a glacier foreland. Environmental samples collected at different distances from a receding glacier contained amounts of 16S rRNA target molecules ranging from 4.9 x 10(5) to 8.9 x 10(5) copies per nanogram of DNA but smaller amounts of narG, nirK, and nosZ target molecules. Thus, numbers of narG, nirK, nirS, and nosZ copies per nanogram of DNA ranged from 2.1 x 10(3) to 2.6 x 10(4), 7.4 x 10(2) to 1.4 x 10(3), 2.5 x 10(2) to 6.4 x 10(3), and 1.2 x 10(3) to 5.5 x 10(3), respectively. The densities of 16S rRNA genes per gram of soil increased with progressing soil development. The densities as well as relative abundances of different denitrification genes provide evidence that different denitrifier communities develop under primary succession: higher percentages of narG and nirS versus 16S rRNA genes were observed in the early stage of primary succession, while the percentages of nirK and nosZ genes showed no significant increase or decrease with soil age. Statistical analyses revealed that the amount of organic substances was the most important factor in the abundance of eubacteria as well as of nirK and nosZ communities, and copy numbers of these two genes were the most important drivers changing the denitrifying community along the chronosequence. This study yields an initial insight into the ecology of bacteria carrying genes for the denitrification pathway in a newly developing alpine environment.