nitrous bacteria
Definition
Noun: A type of soil bacteria that performs the biological oxidation of ammonia (NH₃) to nitrites (NO₂⁻). This is a specific, critical step in the nitrogen cycle.
Usage
This is a scientific and ecological term. It refers to a functional group of microorganisms, not a single species. * Nitrous bacteria are essential for converting ammonia into nitrites in the soil. * The activity of nitrous bacteria increases with adequate soil moisture and aeration.
Advanced Usage
- Role in Nitrification: (e.g., bacteria from genera like or ) are specifically responsible for the first stage of nitrification. They are chemolithoautotrophs, meaning they derive energy from oxidizing inorganic ammonia.
- Environmental Dependency: The population and activity of are sensitive to environmental factors such as pH, temperature, and oxygen levels.
Variants and Related Words
- Nitrifying Bacteria: A broader term encompassing both (which produce nitrites) and nitric bacteria (which oxidize nitrites to nitrates).
- Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB): A more modern and precise synonym for .
- Nitrosomonas: A common genus of .
Synonyms
- Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB)
- Nitrite bacteria (less common)
Related Concepts
- Nitrification: The two-step microbial process of converting ammonia to nitrates, facilitated first by and then by nitric bacteria.
- Nitrogen Cycle: The biogeochemical cycle where play a crucial role in the nitrification step.
- Ammonification: The preceding process that produces the ammonia that utilize.
Noun
-
soil bacteria that oxidize ammonia to nitrites
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