Ammonia Oxidation Potentials and Ammonia Oxidizers of Lichen–Moss Vegetated Soils at Two Ice-free Areas in East Antarctica

Abstract

The maximum ammonia oxidation potential (AOP) of a topsoil in Langhovde, East Antarctica was 22.1±2.4‍ ‍ng N g^–1 dry soil h^–1 (2‍ ‍mM ammonium, 10°C, n=3). This topsoil exhibited twin AOP peaks (1 and 2‍ ‍mM ammonium) at 10°C, but not at 20°C. Six and ten operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified for ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) amoA, respectively. AOB were classified into Nitrosospira; the two dominant OTUs corresponded to the Mount Everest cluster. AOA were classified into three clusters; Nitrososphaera and Nitrosocosmicus were the two dominant clusters.