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Warming stimulates sediment denitrification at the expense of anaerobic ammonium oxidation

Author

Listed:
  • Ehui Tan

    (College of Ocean and Earth Science, Xiamen University)

  • Wenbin Zou

    (College of Ocean and Earth Science, Xiamen University)

  • Zhenzhen Zheng

    (College of Ocean and Earth Science, Xiamen University)

  • Xiuli Yan

    (Shantou University)

  • Moge Du

    (College of Ocean and Earth Science, Xiamen University)

  • Ting-Chang Hsu

    (Huaiyin Normal University)

  • Li Tian

    (College of Ocean and Earth Science, Xiamen University)

  • Jack J. Middelburg

    (Utrecht University)

  • Thomas W. Trull

    (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization)

  • Shuh-ji Kao

    (College of Ocean and Earth Science, Xiamen University)

Abstract

Temperature is one of the fundamental environmental variables governing microbially mediated denitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) in sediments. The GHG nitrous oxide (N2O) is produced during denitrification, but not by anammox, and knowledge of how these pathways respond to global warming remains limited. Here, we show that warming directly stimulates denitrification-derived N2O production and that the warming response for N2O production is slightly higher than the response for denitrification in subtropical sediments. Moreover, denitrification had a higher optimal temperature than anammox. Integrating our data into a global compilation indicates that denitrifiers are more thermotolerant, whereas anammox bacteria are relatively psychrotolerant. Crucially, recent summer temperatures in low-latitude sediments have exceeded the optimal temperature of anammox, implying that further warming may suppress anammox and direct more of the nitrogen flow towards denitrification and associated N2O production, leading to a positive climate feedback at low latitudes.

Suggested Citation

  • Ehui Tan & Wenbin Zou & Zhenzhen Zheng & Xiuli Yan & Moge Du & Ting-Chang Hsu & Li Tian & Jack J. Middelburg & Thomas W. Trull & Shuh-ji Kao, 2020. "Warming stimulates sediment denitrification at the expense of anaerobic ammonium oxidation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(4), pages 349-355, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1038_s41558-020-0723-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0723-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Liwei Zhang & Sibo Zhang & Xinghui Xia & Tom J. Battin & Shaoda Liu & Qingrui Wang & Ran Liu & Zhifeng Yang & Jinren Ni & Emily H. Stanley, 2022. "Unexpectedly minor nitrous oxide emissions from fluvial networks draining permafrost catchments of the East Qinghai-Tibet Plateau," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.

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