Archaea Role in Nitrogen Cycle
- Archaea organisms can perform essentially all steps in nitrogen cycle.
- Archaea organisms have an order of magnitude more ammonia oxidation capability than other microbes in soil.
- Nitrogen is removed by Archaea through anaerobic ammonia oxidation (ANAMMOX).
- ANAMMOX is the oxidation of ammonium to nitrite and then the removal of nitrogen from nitrite to the atmosphere by combining nitrite and ammonium under an anaerobic condition.
- ANAMMOX requires less dissolved oxygen and is not dependent upon carbon feed.
