Assessment of the community composition of attached and suspended denitrifiers in limestone aquifers targeting nirK and nirS genes

In this study we investigated the community structure of attached and free-living denitrifiers in two superimposed limestone aquifers in the Hainich region (Thuringia, Germany)targeting nirK and nirS genes encoding nitrite reductase. Attached communities were retrieved from crushed rock material which had been exposed in the groundwater wells at 12.7 and 48 m depth for a period of 9 months. Community structure was assessed by 454 amplicon pyrosequencing.