Salinity imapcted the nitrifying and denitrifying processes in sediments. Salinity impacted nitrogen cycle

In this study, an incubation experiment was conducted to study the influence of salinity on the nitrogen cycle in the mangrove sediment. By comparing the nitrifying and denitrifying micrbial communities in four salnily gradients (0,10,20 and 30 ppt), we found that the high salinity can inhibit both the nitrifying and denitrifying activities. Moreover, high salinity also decresed the denitrifiers' abundances while AOB were more abundant in the intermedium salinities, suggesting that the intermedium salinity might be optimal for nitrifiers. Salinity also showed significant impact on both nitrifying and denitrifying community compositions. Our study suggests a strong influence of salinity on sediment nitrogen cycle.