Objective
The proposed project focuses on the so far neglected comparative investigation of denitrification and DNRA (Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium), two benthic microbial processes of great importance for nitrogen cycling in aquatic ecosystems.
We aim at moving DNRA more into the spotlight, because:
(1) its metabolic control and phylogenetic diversity is understudied compared to denitrification; and
(2) its environmental importance will increase relative to denitrification due to the excessive water use in aquaculture and desalination.
Anthropogenic and environmental factors that change the partitioning between the two processes will also affect the ratio of nitrogen removal (denitrification) and nitrogen retention (DNRA) from and within the ecosystem. Therefore, we expect that a better understanding of the metabolic control and phylogenetic diversity of DNRA will aid in developing management strategies for handling nitrogenous pollution of aquatic ecosystems.
In an integrated approach using the contemporary techniques of microbial ecology we aim at:
(1) measuring rates of denitrification & DNRA simultaneously and at high spatial resolution in marine sediments, aquaculture and desalination systems;
(2) determining community structure and gene expression of denitrifying & DNRA-performing bacteria in natural sediments; and
(3) correlating rates with presence & metabolic status of denitrifying & DNRA-performing bacteria, and with spatial gradients of environmental factors (H2S & T OC).
The field investigations will be complemented by laboratory incubations in which the short-term metabolic response and the long-term community shifts of denitrifying & DNRA-performing bacteria can be studied. Additionally, denitrifying & DNRA-performing strains will be isolated from the field-collected samples and screened for co-occurrence of functional genes of both metabolic pathways.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
- engineering and technology chemical engineering separation technologies desalination
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences hydrology limnology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2004-MOBILITY-11
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Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
MUENCHEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.