Effects of acidification on nitrification and associated nitrous oxide emission in estuarine and coastal waters

Jie Zhou, Yanling Zheng (), Lijun Hou (), Zhirui An, Feiyang Chen, Bolin Liu, Li Wu, Lin Qi, Hongpo Dong, Ping Han, Guoyu Yin, Xia Liang, Yi Yang, Xiaofei Li, Dengzhou Gao, Ye Li, Zhanfei Liu, Richard Bellerby and Min Liu ()
Additional contact information
Jie Zhou: East China Normal University
Yanling Zheng: East China Normal University
Lijun Hou: East China Normal University
Zhirui An: East China Normal University
Feiyang Chen: East China Normal University
Bolin Liu: East China Normal University
Li Wu: East China Normal University
Lin Qi: East China Normal University
Hongpo Dong: East China Normal University
Ping Han: East China Normal University
Guoyu Yin: East China Normal University
Xia Liang: East China Normal University
Yi Yang: East China Normal University
Xiaofei Li: East China Normal University
Dengzhou Gao: East China Normal University
Ye Li: East China Normal University
Zhanfei Liu: The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute
Richard Bellerby: Norwegian Institute for Water Research
Min Liu: East China Normal University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract In the context of an increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) level, acidification of estuarine and coastal waters is greatly exacerbated by land-derived nutrient inputs, coastal upwelling, and complex biogeochemical processes. A deeper understanding of how nitrifiers respond to intensifying acidification is thus crucial to predict the response of estuarine and coastal ecosystems and their contribution to global climate change. Here, we show that acidification can significantly decrease nitrification rate but stimulate generation of byproduct nitrous oxide (N2O) in estuarine and coastal waters. By varying CO2 concentration and pH independently, an expected beneficial effect of elevated CO2 on activity of nitrifiers (“CO2-fertilization” effect) is excluded under acidification. Metatranscriptome data further demonstrate that nitrifiers could significantly up-regulate gene expressions associated with intracellular pH homeostasis to cope with acidification stress. This study highlights the molecular underpinnings of acidification effects on nitrification and associated greenhouse gas N2O emission, and helps predict the response and evolution of estuarine and coastal ecosystems under climate change and human activities.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37104-9

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