Comammox Nitrospira among dominant ammonia oxidizers within aquarium biofilter microbial communities.

ABSTRACT: Nitrification by aquarium biofilters transforms ammonia waste (NH₃/NH₄⁺) to less toxic nitrate (NO₃^-) via nitrite (NO₂^-). Prior to the discovery of complete ammonia-oxidizing ("comammox" or CMX) Nitrospira, previous research revealed that ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) dominated over ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in freshwater aquarium biofilters. Here, we profiled aquarium biofilter microbial communities and quantified the abundance of all three known ammonia oxidizers using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantitative PCR (qPCR), respectively. Biofilter and water samples were each collected from representative residential and commercial freshwater and saltwater aquaria. Distinct biofilter microbial commu

SUBMITTER: McKnight MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11267875 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature