Nitrogen Transformations in Aquaponic Systems

The goals of this study were to examine the ecology of important bacteria, and quantitatively assess their abundances during the nitrogen transformations in pilot-scale floating-raft aquaponic systems. To achieve these objectives, 16S rRNA genes from microbial samples in aquaponic biofilters and plant roots were amplified and sequenced using next-generation sequencing. The sequences were analyzed for the diversity and abundance of microbial communities responsible for nitrogen transformations. Using knowledge obtained from the bacterial community, structural links among bacteria, biofilters, plant roots, and water quality parameters were established for the aquaponic systems.