nitric bacterium
Noun A type of nitrifying bacterium (nitrobacterium) that performs the specific biochemical process of oxidizing nitrites (NO₂⁻) into nitrates (NO₃⁻). These bacteria are a key component in the second stage of the nitrogen cycle in soil and water.
The term is used in scientific contexts, particularly in microbiology, ecology, agriculture, and environmental science, to describe bacteria responsible for a specific step in nitrification. * The activity of the nitric bacterium is essential for converting nitrites, which can be toxic to plants, into beneficial nitrates. * Researchers studied the population dynamics of the nitric bacterium in the agricultural soil. * A healthy aquarium filter fosters colonies of nitric bacterium to process fish waste.
- Ecological Role: Nitric bacteria, along with ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, complete the nitrification process, making nitrogen available to plants in the form of nitrate.
- Environmental Indicator: The presence and health of nitric bacterium populations can indicate the quality and fertility of soil or water.
- Nitrobacterium (n.): The broader category of bacteria involved in nitrification, which includes nitric bacteria.
- Nitrite oxidizer (n.): A descriptive term for nitric bacterium, highlighting its function.
- Nitrifier (n.): A general term for any microorganism that carries out nitrification.
- Nitrification (n.): The two-step microbial process of converting ammonia to nitrate, with nitric bacteria responsible for the second step.
- Nitrite-oxidizing bacterium
- Nitrobacter (This is often used, though technically it refers to a common genus, , within this functional group.)
- Nitrifying bacteria: The consortium of bacteria, including both ammonia-oxidizers and nitric bacteria, that carry out the full nitrification process.
- Nitrogen cycle: The broader biogeochemical cycle in which nitric bacteria play a crucial role.
- any of the nitrobacteria that oxidize nitrites into nitrates