Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


kent1343006692.pdf (706.9 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Effect of Hydrological Regimes on Denitrification and Microbial Community Composition in Agriculturally Impacted Streams and Riparian Zones in Indiana, USA

Manis, Erin Evelyn
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1343006692

Abstract Details

2012, MS, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Biological Sciences.
The landscape surrounding a particular stream or river has a complex relationship with the aquatic habitat, influencing ecological health on multiple scales. Alteration of the landscape through anthropogenic activity represents a primary threat to rivers and streams via a variety of mechanisms, including habitat loss, nutrient enrichment, pollution, riparian zone and canopy destruction, and alteration of hydrology. Nutrient enrichment in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus is associated with eutrophication, increased primary productivity, decreased biodiversity, and hypoxia in both freshwater and marine environments. Nitrate retention and loss can be controlled by several factors, including a variety of biological mechanisms by which nitrogen is temporarily or permanently removed from agriculturally impacted subsurface waterways. A dominant sink for nitrate is denitrification, carried out exclusively by denitrifying bacteria. Denitrifiers are able to reduce nitrate to nitrous oxide or di-nitrogen gas under anaerobic conditions, thus removing nitrate permanently from the system. Although the process of denitrification in streams is well studied, it is unclear how varying hydrologic regimes in agriculturally impacted streams and riparian buffer zones affect the denitrifying community’s structure. In this study, the effect of varying hydrologic regimes on microbial community composition and denitrification rates in agriculturally impacted streams was examined. The role of flooding in driving microbial community composition and denitrification rates of naturally formed riparian benches along a primary headwater agricultural stream was also examined via a simulated flooding experiment. Results suggest that hydrology plays a significant role in determining denitrification rate, likely due to changes in sediment and soil redox potentials. Results also suggest that bacterial community structure (i.e. 16S rRNA gene copy numbers, nosZ gene copy numbers, and relative denitrifier abundance) is not a good predictor of changes in denitrification rate and subsequent nitrate removal.
Laura Leff, Dr. (Advisor)
Christopher Blackwood, Dr. (Committee Member)
Darren Bade, Dr. (Committee Member)
113 p.
Biology; Ecology; Microbiology
Hydrology; denitrification; microbial community composition

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Manis, E. E. (2012). Effect of Hydrological Regimes on Denitrification and Microbial Community Composition in Agriculturally Impacted Streams and Riparian Zones in Indiana, USA [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1343006692

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Manis, Erin. Effect of Hydrological Regimes on Denitrification and Microbial Community Composition in Agriculturally Impacted Streams and Riparian Zones in Indiana, USA. 2012. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1343006692.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Manis, Erin. "Effect of Hydrological Regimes on Denitrification and Microbial Community Composition in Agriculturally Impacted Streams and Riparian Zones in Indiana, USA." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1343006692

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1343006692
516
© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.