Bacterial community in a recirculating aquaculture system with and without microalgae. freshwater metagenome

In recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), bacteria play important roles to maintain good water quality. Due to nitrification process which converts harmful ammonia to nitrite, and nitrite to nitrate, nitrate accumulates in the RAS. Microalgae assimilate ammonia and nitrate; therefore, incorporation of microalgae in RAS will reduce the nitrate concentration. Nonetheless, microalgae will interact with bacteria in the RAS and affect the bacterial community, whether the effect is positive or negative, is unknown. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of microalgae on bacterial community in a recirculating aquaculture system.