Article Abstract:
The activity of denitrifying bacteria in the gut of Lumbricus rubellus and Ostoclasium lacteum was analyzed to determine the role of earthworms in the synthesis of VH or N2O in terrestrial ecosystems. Denitrifying activity was exhibited by 3% to 10% of the microbes isolated from earthworm gut material. The anaerobic gut homogenates also catalyzed the synthesis of N2O and N2 from nitrate after prolonged incubation. Furthermore, N2O production by earthworms was also mediated by nitrification, assimilatory nitrate reduction and dissimilatory reduction of nitrate to ammonium.
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Article Abstract:
The spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA) was 3.5 times more in artificial denitrification activity zones than in bulk soil and the denitrifier biomass was 1-4 times more in activity zones. The potential heterogeneous distribution of denitrifying bacteria should be considered while measuring the denitrifying specific activity.
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Article Abstract:
Chloramphenicol should not be used in denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA) assays in concentrations greater than 0.1 g/liter. The antibiotic is used in these assays to inhibit the synthesis of new denitrifying enzymes, but it inhibits existing enzymes as well.
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