Community characteristics of <i>nosZ</i>-type denitrifiers and their influencing factors in reservoir sediments of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

XIA Liang; MAO Xufeng; WEI Xiaoyan; YU Hongyan; ZHANG Lele; DU Kai; YANG Yongxiao; WU Yi

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202605007

Volume 44 Issue 5

May 2026

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2026 > 44(5): 71-82

XIA Liang, MAO Xufeng, WEI Xiaoyan, YU Hongyan, ZHANG Lele, DU Kai, YANG Yongxiao, WU Yi. Community characteristics of nosZ-type denitrifiers and their influencing factors in reservoir sediments of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(5): 71-82. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605007

Citation:

XIA Liang, MAO Xufeng, WEI Xiaoyan, YU Hongyan, ZHANG Lele, DU Kai, YANG Yongxiao, WU Yi. Community characteristics of nosZ-type denitrifiers and their influencing factors in reservoir sediments of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(5): 71-82. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605007

Citation:

PDF( 2056 KB)

Community characteristics of nosZ-type denitrifiers and their influencing factors in reservoir sediments of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605007

XIA Liang^1,2,
MAO Xufeng^{1,2
,
,},
WEI Xiaoyan³,
YU Hongyan⁴,
ZHANG Lele^1,2,
DU Kai^1,2,
YANG Yongxiao^1,2,
WU Yi^1,2

1. Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Physical Geography and Environmental Process, College of Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China;
2. Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Land Surface Processes and Ecological Conservation (Ministry of Education), Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China;
3. School of Economics and Management, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China;
4. Qinghai Service Guarantee Center, Qinghai Qilian Mountain National Park, Xining 810400, China

Received Date: 2026-01-09
Available Online: 2026-06-06

Abstract

Abstract

Reservoirs are increasingly recognized as dynamic inland-water components that can function as both sources and sinks of nitrous oxide （N₂O）， a potent greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting substance. In sedimentary environments， complete denitrification provides the only known biological pathway for reducing N₂O to inert dinitrogen （N₂）， and the functional gene nosZ， which encodes nitrous oxide reductase， is widely used as a molecular marker to assess the N₂O-reduction potential of microbial communities. However， the community characteristics， spatiotemporal variability， and environmental control of nosZ-type denitrifiers in high-altitude reservoir sediments remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated nosZ-type denitrifying bacterial communities and nosZ gene abundance in surface sediments （0 to 15 cm） collected from 18 reservoirs located in the mainstem Yellow River Basin （10 reservoirs） and its tributary basin， the Huangshui River Basin （8 reservoirs）， in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Sampling was conducted during the dry season （May 2023） and wet season （August 2023）， and paired sediment and surface-water physicochemical parameters were measured concurrently. High-throughput sequencing targeting the nosZ gene was employed to profile community composition and diversity， while quantitative PCR （qPCR） was used to quantify absolute nosZ gene copy numbers （copies/g dry sediment） as a proxy for functional potential. Multivariate analysis， including redundancy analysis （RDA） and hierarchical partitioning， were applied to identify key environmental drivers shaping community structure. The results showed that：1） nosZ-type denitrifying bacteria in reservoir sediments of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were dominated by Proteobacteria （78.91%）. LEfSe analysis indicated that Paracoccus and Halomonas were biomarkers for the mainstem of the Yellow River Basin， while no biomarkers were detected in the Huangshui River Basin at the genus level. 2） The diversity of nosZ-type denitrifying bacteria in the Huangshui River Basin was higher than that in the mainstem of the Yellow River Basin （P<0.05）， with no significant difference over time （P>0.05）. The abundance of the nosZ gene was spatially higher in the Huangshui River Basin （165.24×10⁵ copies/g） than in the mainstem of the Yellow River Basin （34.43×10⁵ copies/g）. Temporally， it was also higher in the wet season （128.55×10⁵ copies/g） compared to the dry season （61.27×10⁵ copies/g）（P<0.05）. 3） Sediment temperature （17.14%）， pH （16.89%）， total phosphorus （13.83%）， and total nitrogen （11.23%） in water significantly influenced the community structure of nosZ-type denitrifying bacteria in the reservoir sediments of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau （P<0.05）. Collectively， these results demonstrated that nosZ-type denitrifiers in reservoir sediments of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau exhibit clear basin-dependent patterns and significant seasonal shifts in functional gene abundance， and that thermal regime， pH， and nutrient status are critical determinants of community assembly. This study provides an integrated microbial and environmental baseline for plateau reservoirs， improves mechanistic understanding of sedimentary N₂O sinks， and offers scientific support for reservoir N₂O mitigation strategies that consider watershed nutrient management and sediment physicochemical conditions.
- Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,
- Yellow River Basin,
- high-throughput sequencing,
- sediments,
- nitrous oxide

FullText(HTML)

References(48)

References

[1]	LI Y，TIAN H，YAO Y，et al. Increased nitrous oxide emissions from global lakes and reservoirs since the pre-industrial era［J］. Nature Communications，2024，15（1）：942.
[2]	WUEBBLES D J J S. Nitrous oxide：no laughing matter［J］. Science，2009，326（5949）：56- 57.
[3]	SHEN W S，XIONG R N，ZHANG H H，et al. Emissions from agricultural soils research progress on microbial-mediated mitigation of nitrous oxide［J］. Acta Pedologica Sinica，2023，60（2）：332- 344. 申卫收，熊若男，张欢欢，等. 微生物介导的农业土壤氧化亚氮减排研究进展［J］. 土壤学报，2023，60（2）：332- 344.
[4]	HALLIN S，PHILIPPOT L，LöFFLER F E，et al. Genomics and ecology of novel N₂O-reducing microorganisms［J］. Trends in Microbiology，2018，26（1）：43- 55.
[5]	WANG J，VILMIN L，MOGOLLóN J M，et al. Inland waters increasingly produce and emit nitrous oxide［J］. Environmental Science & Technology，2023，57（36）：13506- 13519.
[6]	HAYES N M，DEEMER B R，CORMAN J R，et al. Key differences between lakes and reservoirs modify climate signals:A case for a new conceptual model［J］. Limnology and Oceanography Letters，2017，2（2）：47- 62.
[7]	DUAN C J，WAN S，YE G P，et al. Long-term effects of imbalanced fertilization with lime and gypsum additions on denitrifying functional genes of an Ultisol at Yingtan，Jiangxi，China［J］. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology，2021，32（6）：2209- 2216. 段春健，宛颂，叶桂萍，等. 长期缺素施肥及石灰石膏施用对江西鹰潭红壤反硝化微生物功能基因丰度的影响［J］. 应用生态学报，2021，32（6）：2209- 2216.
[8]	JU H H. Characteristics of denitrification and N₂O emission of acclimated glycogen accumulating organisms using different electron acceptor［J］. Environmental Engineering，2020，38（9）：113- 118. 鞠洪海. 不同电子受体驯化聚糖菌反硝化过程及N₂O释放特性［J］. 环境工程，2020，38（9）：113- 118.
[9]	JUHANSON J，HALLIN S，SöDERSTRöM M，et al. Spatial and phyloecological analyses of nosZ genes underscore niche differentiation amongst terrestrial N₂O reducing communities［J］. Soil Biology Biochemistry，2017，115：82- 91.
[10]	BAO L L，CHEN Y J，WANG X Y，et al. Ecological characteristics of nitrogen cycling microbes in river sediments［J］. Microbiology China，2015，42（6）：1141- 1150. 鲍林林，陈永娟，王晓燕. 河流沉积物氮循环主要微生物的生态特征［J］. 微生物学通报，2015，42（6）：1141- 1150.
[11]	ZHANG M，WANG W，WANG D，et al. Short-term responses of soil nitrogen mineralization，nitrification and denitrification to prescribed burning in a suburban forest ecosystem of subtropical Australia［J］. Science of the Total Environment，2018，642：879- 886.
[12]	WANG P X，YANG Y D，WANG Z H，et al. Responses of the nosZ-denitrifying bacterial communities to fertilization regimes in paddy soils［J］. Chinese Journal of Ecology，2019，38（7）：2072- 2079. 王培欣，杨亚东，王占海，等. 施肥制度对水稻土壤nosZ型反硝化细菌群落的影响［J］. 生态学杂志，2019，38（7）：2072- 2079.
[13]	LEI S Y，GU Y F，ZHANG Y J，et al. Community structure analysis of nirS denitrifying bacteria in farmland soil at different altitudes in the dry-hot valley of Panzhihua［J］. Chinese Journal of Soil Science，2022，53（6）：1368- 1375. 雷善钰，辜运富，张亚洁，等. 攀枝花干热河谷区不同海拔高度农田土壤nirS型反硝化细菌的群落结构分析［J］. 土壤通报，2022，53（6）：1368- 1375.
[14]	WANG X，ZHANG X D，YAO Z W，et al. Effects of logging residue management on soil nosZ-type denitrifying bacteria community diversity in a Chinese fir plantation［J］. Acta Ecologica Sinica，2023，43（9）：3789- 3797. 王旭，张旭东，姚增旺，等. 采伐剩余物管理对杉木人工林土壤nosZ型反硝化细菌群落多样性的影响［J］. 生态学报，2023，43（9）：3789- 3797.
[15]	SONG K，DEN M，SENBATI Y，et al. Microbial reduction of nitrous oxide（N₂O）greenhouse gas in rivers and lakes:A review［J］. Research of Environmental Sciences，2024，37（5）：929- 938. 宋康，邓闵，森巴提·叶尔肯，等. 河湖氧化亚氮（N₂O）温室气体的微生物还原作用研究进展［J］. 环境科学研究，2024，37（5）：929- 938.
[16]	ZOU Y，DING X Y，LIN M X，et al. Abundance and structure diversity of denitrifying bacterial community in sediments of Guangzhou Liuxi River［J］. Journal of South China Agricultural University，2018，39（3）：65- 72. 邹勇，丁雪瑶，林曼霞，等. 广州市流溪河沉积物反硝化细菌群落丰度与结构多样性研究［J］. 华南农业大学学报，2018，39（3）：65- 72.
[17]	CHEN H，JU P，ZHU Q，et al. Carbon and nitrogen cycling on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau［J］. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment，2022，3（10）：701- 716.
[18]	MU C，LI L，WU X，et al. Greenhouse gas released from the deep permafrost in the northern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau［J］. Scientific reports，2018，8（1）：1- 9.
[19]	MILNER A M，KHAMIS K，BATTIN T J，et al. Glacier shrinkage driving global changes in downstream systems［J］. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences，2017，114（37）：9770- 9778.
[20]	ZHANG L，ZHANG S，XIA X，et al. Unexpectedly minor nitrous oxide emissions from fluvial networks draining permafrost catchments of the East Qinghai-Tibet Plateau［J］. Nature Communications，2022，13（1）：950.
[21]	GUO Z，SU R，ZENG J，et al. NosZI microbial community determined the potential of denitrification and nitrous oxide emission in river sediments of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau［J］. Environmental Research，2022，214：114138.
[22]	XU Y B，XU Z H，CAI Z C. Progresses in research on denitrification in tropical and subtropical soils of terrestrial ecosystems［J］. Ecology and Environmental Sciences，2014，23（9）：1557- 1566. 续勇波，ZHIHONG X，蔡祖聪. 热带亚热带土壤氮素反硝化研究进展［J］. 生态环境学报，2014，23（9）：1557- 1566.
[23]	State Environmental Protection Administration. Analysis and detection methods of water and wastewater［M］. 4th edition. Bejing：China Environmental science Press，2002. 国家环境保护总局. 水和废水监测分析方法［M］. 4版. 北京：中国环境科学出版社，2002.
[24]	THROBäCK I N，ENWALL K，JARVIS Å，et al. Reassessing PCR primers targeting nirS，nirK and nosZ genes for community surveys of denitrifying bacteria with DGGE［J］. FEMS Microbiology Ecology，2004，49（3）：401- 417.
[25]	XU Y，ZHONG Z，ZHANG W，et al. Responses of soil nosZ-type denitrifying microbial communities to the various land-use types of the Loess Plateau，China［J］. Soil and Tillage Research，2019，195：104378.
[26]	HENRY S，BRU D，STRES B，et al. Quantitative detection of the nosZ gene，encoding nitrous oxide reductase，and comparison of the abundances of 16S rRNA，narG，nirK，and nosZ genes in soils［J］. Applied Environmental Microbiology，2006，72（8）：5181- 5189.
[27]	WANG H，ZHAO W，XIE Z G，et al. Bacterial community structure characteristics in the Biliuhe reservoir and its key driving factors［J］. Environmental Science，2018，39（8）：3660- 3669. 王欢，赵文，谢在刚，等. 碧流河水库细菌群落结构特征及其关键驱动因子［J］. 环境科学，2018，39（8）：3660- 3669.
[28]	KOU W B，HUANG Z Y，ZHANG J，et al. Bacterial community structure and composition in Lake Poyang：a case study in the Songmenshan Region，China［J］. Acta Ecologica Sinica，2015，35（23）：7608- 7614. 寇文伯，黄正云，张杰，等. 鄱阳湖湖泊细菌群落组成及结构：以松门山为例［J］. 生态学报，2015，35（23）：7608- 7614.
[29]	FANG P，LI Y E，WEI D Y，et al. during sewage treatment microbial community diversity and its response to environmental factors［J］. Microbiology China，2020，47（9）：3004- 3020. 房平，李雨娥，魏东洋，等. 污水处理过程中微生物群落多样性及其对环境因子响应的研究进展［J］. 微生物学通报，2020，47（9）：3004- 3020.
[30]	ZHANG M，DARAZ U，SUN Q，et al. Denitrifier abundance and community composition linked to denitrification potential in river sediments［J］. Environmental Science Pollution Research，2021，28（37）：51928- 51939.
[31]	YANG W H，SHI D J，ZHANG Y，et al. Community characteristics of denitrifying microorganisms in plateau lake sediments:taking Nanhaihu lake as example［J］. China Environmental Science，2020，40（1）：431- 438. 杨文焕，石大钧，张元，等. 高原湖泊沉积物中反硝化微生物的群落特征：以包头南海湖为例［J］. 中国环境科学，2020，40（1）：431- 438.
[32]	ZOU Y Y，ZHANG Y，LI M Z，et al. Isolation and identification of a heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification bacterium and its denitrification ability［J］. China Environmental Science，2016，36（3）：887- 893. 邹艳艳，张宇，李明智，等. 一株异养硝化-好氧反硝化细菌的分离鉴定及脱氮活性研究［J］. 中国环境科学，2016，36（3）：887- 893.
[33]	BERGAUST L，MAO Y，BAKKEN L R，et al. Denitrification response patterns during the transition to anoxic respiration and posttranscriptional effects of suboptimal pH on nitrogen oxide reductase in Paracoccus denitrificans［J］. Applied and Environmental Microbiology，2010，76（19）：6387- 6396.
[34]	MING H X，CHEN Q R，SHI Y Y，et al. Study on denitrification process of sediment in the Liaohe Estuary：Analysis of the abundance of denitrification functional genes and the community structure of nirK-type bacteria［J］. Haiyang Xuebao，2020，42（12）：82- 92. 明红霞，陈泉睿，史银银，等. 辽河口沉积物反硝化过程研究：以反硝化功能基因丰度及nirK型细菌群落结构分析为例［J］. 海洋学报，2020，42（12）：82- 92.
[35]	SUN H M，SUN W L，SHAO J. Quantifying total bacteria and functional genes of denitrifying bacteria in Buji River in dry season［J］. Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Pekinensis，2012，48（4）：620- 629. 孙海美，孙卫玲，邵军. 布吉河枯水期总细菌和反硝化功能基因定量研究［J］. 北京大学学报（自然科学版），2012，48（4）：620- 629.
[36]	LI G W，GAO X Q，XIAO N W，et al. Spatial and temporal changes of ecosystem quality based on key indicators in Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2018［J］. Research of Environmental Sciences，2021，34（12）：2945- 2953. 李冠稳，高晓奇，肖能文. 基于关键指标的黄河流域近20年生态系统质量的时空变化［J］. 环境科学研究，2021，34（12）：2945- 2953.
[37]	XIA L，MAO X F，WU Y，et al. Methane Diffusion and Ebullition Emissions in Reservoirs of the Yellow River Mainstream and the Huangshui River Basins in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau［J］. Journal of Hydroecology，2025：1- 13. 夏亮，毛旭锋，吴艺，等. 青藏高原东北部黄河干流与湟水流域水库甲烷扩散和冒泡通量研究［J］. 水生态学杂志，2025：1- 13.
[38]	WANG D，CHEN Z，SUN W，et al. Methane and nitrous oxide concentration and emission flux of Yangtze Delta plain river net［J］. Science in China Series B：Chemistry，2009，52（5）：652- 661.
[39]	ZHAO B，ZENG Q，WANG J，et al. Impact of cascade reservoirs on nutrients transported downstream and regulation method based on hydraulic retention time［J］. Water Research，2024，252：121187.
[40]	WU Y，MAO X，YU H，et al. Spatiotemporal distribution of nirS-type denitrifiers in cascade reservoir sediments of the Qinghai Plateau［J］. Diversity，2024，16（11）：656.
[41]	HUANG J，JIN C，ZHANG H，et al. Transformation and drive mechanism of nitrogen functional genes at estuaries in dry and wet seasons［J］. Chemosphere，2024，363：142938.
[42]	XIE J，SU Y L，WU B，et al. Responses of phytoplankton communities to N，P，Fe enrichments in wet season of tropical reservoirs in southern China：A case study of Dashahe Reservoir，Guangdong Province［J］. Journal of Lake Sciences，2024，36（1）：43- 51. 谢静，苏宇亮，吴斌，等. 华南热带水库丰水期浮游植物群落对氮、磷、铁加富的响应：以广东大沙河水库为例［J］. 湖泊科学，2024，36（1）：43- 51.
[43]	DAI Z，YU M，CHEN H，et al. Elevated temperature shifts soil N cycling from microbial immobilization to enhanced mineralization，nitrification and denitrification across global terrestrial ecosystems［J］. Global Change Biology，2020，26（9）：5267- 76.
[44]	LIANG W G，HUANG Y L，ZHANG H H，et al. Characteristic analysis of nirS denitrifying bacterial community in Lijiahe Reservoir during stratification［J］. Environmental Science，2022，43（1）：306- 313. 梁伟光，黄廷林，张海涵，等. 李家河水库春季分层期nirS型反硝化菌群特征分析［J］. 环境科学，2022，43（1）：306- 313.
[45]	HU B，QUAN J，HUANG K，et al. Effects of C/N ratio and dissolved oxygen on aerobic denitrification process:A mathematical modeling study［J］. Chemosphere，2021，272：129521.
[46]	WU B，LIU F，WEISER M D，et al. Temperature determines the diversity and structure of N₂O-reducing microbial assemblages［J］. Functional Ecology，2018，32（7）：1867- 1878.
[47]	ZHOU S，ZHANG Y，HUANG T，et al. Microbial aerobic denitrification dominates nitrogen losses from reservoir ecosystem in the spring of Zhoucun reservoir［J］. Science of the Total Environment，2019，651：998- 1010.
[48]	SHAABAN M，WU Y，KHALID M S，et al. Reduction in soil N₂O emissions by pH manipulation and enhanced nosZ gene transcription under different water regimes［J］. Environmental Pollution，2018，235：625- 631.