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Microbial nitrogen cycling at the saltwater–freshwater interface

Cycle microbiologique de l’azote à l’interface eau salée - eau douce

Ciclo del nitrógeno microbiano en la interfase agua dulce - agua salada

咸水-淡水界面处微生物作用下的N循环

Reciclagem microbiana do azoto na interface água salgada-água doce

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Abstract

Microbial communities inhabiting “subterranean estuaries” along the subsurface freshwater–saltwater continuum determine the fate of nitrogen discharged to coastal waters. Little is known about the microbes that comprise these communities, or what their ecological and biogeochemical responses will be to increased salinity resulting from saltwater intrusion and aquifer salinization. This review covers basic aspects of the nitrogen cycle relevant to the coastal subsurface and provides a framework for predicting the types of microbes and nitrogen transformations that exist in different subterranean estuary systems. Literature concerning the freshwater–saltwater mixing zones of surficial estuaries, where microbial communities are better characterized, is also reviewed to explore what is known about the impact of increasing salinity on both the community composition and biogeochemical function of the microbial assemblage. Collectively, these studies suggest that salinization will alter microbial community composition for all functional groups involved in nitrogen cycling, and may lead to decreases in nitrification and coupled nitrification-denitrification, and increases in dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). Future collaboration between hydrogeologists and microbial ecologists is needed to fully predict the impact of saltwater intrusion on subsurface microbial communities.

Resume

Les populations microbiennes présentes dans les parties souterraines des estuaires au niveau du continuum eau salée - eau douce jouent un rôle dans le devenir de l’azote présent dans les eaux côtières. La connaissance des microbes appartenant à ces populations est peu importante, tout comme les réponses écologiques et biogéochimiques sur l’augmentation de la salinité résultant de l’intrusion saline et de la salinisation des aquifères. Ce bilan des connaissances concerne les aspects fondamentaux du cycle de l’azote dans les zones côtières et fournit un cadre afin de prédire les types de microbes et les transformations de l’azote associées qui existent au niveau des parties souterraines des systèmes estuariens. La littérature concernant les zones de mélange entre les eaux douces et les eaux salées dans les zones de surface des estuaires, où les populations microbiennes sont bien caractérisées, est également passée en revue afin d’analyser la connaissance concernant l’impact de l’augmentation de la salinité, d’une part sur la composition de la communauté microbienne et d’autre part sur la fonction biogéochimique de l’assemblage microbien. De manière générale, ces études suggèrent que la salinisation va modifier la composition de la communauté microbienne pour tous les groupes fonctionnels jouant un rôle dans le cycle de l’azote et qu’elle peut conduire à une réduction de la nitrification et du couple nitrification - dénitrification et à une augmentation de la réduction du nitrate en ammonium (DNRA). Des collaborations dans le futur entre les hydrogéologues et les écologistes microbiens sont nécessaires afin de prédire l’impact des intrusions salines sur les populations microbiennes souterraines.

Resumen

Las comunidades microbianas que habitan los estuarios subterráneos a través del continuo subsuperficial agua dulce - agua salada determinan la subsuelo determinan el destino del nitrógeno descargado en las aguas costeras. Poco es conocido acerca de los microbios que componen estas comunidades, o cuales serán sus respuestas ecológicas y biogeoquímicas al incrementarse la salinidad resultante de la intrusión de agua salada y la salinización del acuífero. Esta revisión cubre aspectos básicos del ciclo del nitrógeno relevantes al subsuelo costero y provee un marco para la predicción de los tipos de microbios y transformaciones del nitrógeno que existen en diferentes sistemas de estuarios subterráneos. También fue revisada la literatura relativa a las zonas del mezcla del agua dulce - agua salada de los estuarios superficiales, donde las comunidades microbianas están mejor caracterizadas, para explorar lo que se conoce acerca del impacto creciente de la salinidad tanto en la composición de la comunidad y como en la función biogeoquímica del conjunto microbiano. Colectivamente, estos estudios sugieren que la salinización altera la composición de la comunidad microbiana para todos los grupos funcionales involucrados en el ciclo del nitrógeno, y puede conducir a reducciones en la nitrificación y en el acople nitrificación - desnitrificación, y aumentos en la disimilitud del nitrato a amonio (DNRA). Se necesita la futura colaboración entre hidrogeólogos y ecólogos microbianos para predecir completamente el impacto de la intrusión de agua salada en las comunidades microbianas subsuperficiales.

摘要

排泄到滨海的N的归宿由咸水-淡水界面连续体“地下河口”处微生物群落决定。但对该群落的微生物组成、生态及其对海水入侵和含水层盐化所导致地下水盐度增加的生物地球化学响应所知甚少。本综述覆盖了关于滨海地下环境中N循环的几个基本方面, 并提供了初步预测不同地下河口系统中可能的微生物种类、N转化过程的方法。本文同时综述了对微生物群落刻画较清楚的地表河口咸水-淡水混合带处的文献, 以探究盐度增加对微生物聚落的群落组成、生物地球化学功能的影响。总体而言, 这些研究显示盐度将改变各种有关N循环的功能群落的微生物群落组成, 可能削弱硝化作用, 及硝化-反硝化的耦合, 此外增加由NO3-还原至NH4+的N。全面预测海水入侵对地下微生物群落的影响, 还需要地质学和微生物生态学者之间的协作。

Resumo

As comunidades microbianas que habitam ‘estuários subterrâneos’ ao longo do continuum subsuperficial água doce-água salgada determinam o destino do azoto descarregado para as águas costeiras. Sabe-se pouco acerca dos micróbios que compõem estas comunidades, ou sobre quais serão as suas respostas ecológicas e biogeoquímicas ao aumento de salinidade devido à intrusão de água salgada e à salinização do aquífero. Esta revisão abrange aspectos básicos do ciclo do azoto, relevantes para a subsuperfície costeira, e fornece um enquadramento para prever os tipos de micróbios e as transformações de azoto que existem em diferentes sistemas estuarinos subterrâneos. A literatura existente relativamente às zonas de mistura de água doce-água salgada de estuários superficiais, onde as comunidades microbianas estão melhor caracterizadas, é também revista, para explorar o que se conhece sobre o impacte do aumento da salinidade quer na composição da comunidade, quer na função biogeoquímica do conjunto microbiano. Em conjunto, estes estudos sugerem que a salinização vai alterar a composição da comunidade microbiana para todos os grupos funcionais envolvidos no ciclo do azoto, e pode conduzir a decréscimos da nitrificação e da nitrificação-denitrificação conjugada, e a aumentos na redução dissimilatória de nitrato para amónia (DNRA). É necessária a colaboração futura de hidrogeólogos e de ecologistas microbianos para predizer completamente o impacte da intrusão de água salgada nas comunidades microbianas subsuperficiais.

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Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges Nicholas Nidzieko for assistance in drafting the figures, Nicholas de Sieyes and Kevin Kroeger for helpful discussions, Ed Leadbetter and two anonymous reviewers for valuable input on the manuscript, and the Guest Editors of this special issue. The author was supported by the Postdoctoral Scholar Program at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, with funding provided by the United States Geological Survey.

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  1. Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 360 Woods Hole Road, MS 52, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA

    Alyson E. Santoro

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ESM Figure 1

a Locations of studies on the US northeast coast referenced in the text. b Additional US locations referenced in the text (PDF 839 kb)

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Santoro, A.E. Microbial nitrogen cycling at the saltwater–freshwater interface. Hydrogeol J 18, 187–202 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-009-0526-z

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