Ubiquitous anaerobic ammonium oxidation in inland waters of China: an overlooked nitrous oxide mitigation process

Guibing Zhu, Shanyun Wang, Leiliu Zhou, Yu Wang, Siyan Zhao, Chao Xia, Weidong Wang, Rong Zhou, Chaoxu Wang, Mike S M Jetten, Mariet M Hefting, Chengqing Yin, Jiuhui Qu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Denitrification has long been regarded as the only pathway for terrestrial nitrogen (N) loss to the atmosphere. Here we demonstrate that large-scale anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), an overlooked N loss process alternative to denitrification which bypasses nitrous oxide (N2O), is ubiquitous in inland waters of China and contributes significantly to N loss. Anammox rates in aquatic systems show different levels (1.0-975.9 μmol N m(-2) h(-1), n = 256) with hotspots occurring at oxic-anoxic interfaces and harboring distinct biogeochemical and biogeographical features. Extrapolation of these results to the China-national level shows that anammox could contribute about 2.0 Tg N yr(-1), which equals averagely 11.4% of the total N loss from China's inland waters. Our results indicate that a significant amount of the nitrogen lost from inland waters bypasses denitrification, which is important for constructing more accurate climate models and may significantly reduce potential N2O emission risk at a large scale.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)17306
JournalScientific Reports
Volume5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Nov 2015

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