To understand the characteristics of microbial communities along the anaerobic ammonia oxidation (ANAMMOX) system, this study explored the diversity, structure, species network, and functional features of microbial communities in sludge with different morphologies along the flow direction in a long-term operated up-flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) ANAMMOX system. The results showed significant differences (P<0.05) in the abundance of AnAOB genes in sludge with different morphologies along the anaerobic ammonia oxidation system. The abundance of AnAOB genes in the bottom granular sludge (KL) was 2.12×1010copies/g VSS, which was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that in sludge with other morphologies along the system. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the microbial diversity of sludge with different morphologies along the system, but no obvious change patterns were observed. The dominant bacterial phyla (relative abundance>1%) in sludge with different morphologies were Chloroflexi, Planctomycota, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Acidobacteriota, and Actinobacteriota. The top 10genera in terms of relative abundance were norank_f_norank_o_SBR1031, Candidatus_Kuenenia, norank_f_Anaerolineaceae, Nitrosomonas,Limnobacteriota, norank_f_PHOS-HE36, Denitratisoma, Denitratisoma, and OLB13norank_f_ A4b. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in relative abundance among different samples. There were significant differences (P=0.001) in the microbial community structure of sludge with different morphology along the process. Network analysis found differences in the structure and topological properties of microbial networks among different morphologies of sludge. Specifically, the average degree and center tightness of flocculent sludge in sedimentation tank (CD) and biofilm in the effluent pipe (XK) were higher than those in other samples along the system, indicating a closer correlation among microbial communities. PICRUSt2analysis revealed that the abundance of functional genes related to metabolic pathways was significantly higher than that of other functional genes. Additionally, there were significant differences (P<0.05) in metabolic functional genes abundance among different morphologies of sludge along the process. The relative abundance of nitrogen metabolism functional gene hao was much higher than that of norB, while the abundance of the narG gene was 20.8 to 733.9times that of nirS, indicating activeness of partial nitritation and partial denitrification functions within the system. The anaerobic ammonia oxidation system exhibits significant heterogeneity in the microbial communities of sludge with different morphologies along the process, but no distinct regularity is observed.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |