Impact of Phenanthrene on Denitrification Activity and Transcription of Related Functional Genes in Estuarine and Marine Sediments

The effects of phenanthrene (Phe) on the denitrification activity and denitrifying genes (narG, nirS and nosZ) were evaluated by dose-response experiments in sediments of Dagu River Estuary (DRE) and Jiaozhou Bay (JZB). The results showed that potential denitrification activity (PDA), N2O, NO3- and NO2- reduction rates of both areas were inhibited with an increase of Phe concentrations. The PDA, N2O, NO3- and NO2- reduction rates of both areas was highest and lowest in the control (DRE: 0.453, 0.427, 7.439 and 3.222mgNkg(-1)T(-1), JZB: 0.592, 0.555, 8.470 and 3.793mgNkg(-1)h(-1)) and highest Phe amended treatments (DRE: 0.069, 0.001, 4.486, and 1.563mgNkg(-1)h(-1); JZB: 0.114, 0.024, 5.527 and 2.200mgNkg(-1)h(-1)). The inhibition rate of PDA was highest, follow by NO2- reduction and then NO3- reduction. Moreover, with the increasing of Phe concentrations, total bacteria count and the abundance of denitrifying genes were decreased. And N2O accumulation was promoted with the addition of Phe for both areas. Based on the comparison of EC50 values, denitrifiers harboring three genes were more sensitive to Phe than PDA, and denitrifiers harboring nirS gene were more sensitive, followed by nosZ gene, and then narG gene. Furthermore, according to correlation analysis, the relative abundance of denitrifying genes was much more positively correlated with PDA, NO2- and NO2- reduction than total bacteria count. In addition, the denitrification activity and total bacteria count in JZB were more inhibited than that of DRE. This study is useful for understanding the impact of Phe pollution on denitrification in estuary and marine sediments, with profound implications for the management of aquatic ecosystems regarding eutrophication (N-removal) and greenhouse effect.