Life Sciences Commons^™

Linking Structure And Function Of Microbial Communities Responsible For Sedimentary Nitrogen Processes In North Carolina Estuaries, Jessica A. Lisa

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Estuaries and coastal areas are highly diverse and productive ecosystems that serve as critical habitats for many marine organisms. Anthropogenic activities and changes in coastal land use have resulted in nutrient over-enrichment, posing a threat to the ecological integrity of estuaries. Nitrogen is often the limiting nutrient and its dynamics are central in determining coastal ecosystem health. The cycling and removal of nitrogen is primarily microbially mediated and the structure of these microbial communities is tightly interlaced with ecosystem function. Recycling processes nitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) serve as a conduit for loss when coupled to the …