Co-association of Two nir Denitrifiers Under the Influence of Emergent Macrophytes.

Diverse microorganisms perform similar metabolic process in biogeochemical cycles, whereas they are found of highly genomic differentiation. Biotic interactions should be considered in any community survey of these functional groups, as they contribute to community assembly and ultimately alter ecosystem properties. Current knowledge has mainly been achieved based on functional community characterized by a single gene using co-occurrence network analysis. Biotic interactions between functionally equivalent microorganisms, however, have received much less attention. Herein, we propose the nirK- and nirS-type denitrifier communities represented by these two nitrite reductase (nir)-encoding genes, as model communities to investigate the potential interactions of two nir denitrifiers. We evaluated co-occurrence patterns and co-association network structures of nir denitrifier community from an emergent macrophyte-dominated riparian zone of highly active denitrification in Lake Taihu, China. We found a more segregated pattern in combined nir communities than in individual communities. Network analyses revealed a modularized structure of associating nir denitrifiers. An increased proportion of negative associations among combined communities relative to those of individual communities indicated potential interspecific competition between nirK and nirS denitrifiers. pH and NH