Vegetation type and layer depth influence nitrite-dependent methane-oxidizing bacteria in constructed wetland.

Nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) process might be an important methane sink in wetland system. However, information on n-damo microorganisms in constructed wetland (CW) system for water treatment is still lacking. The present study investigated the n-damo communities in five full-scale vertical-flow CW systems with different plants. N-damo bacterial abundance did not show a considerable shift in CW planted with Cyperus papyrus, but varied greatly in other CW systems. However, the evident vertical change of n-damo community diversity occurred in each CW system. These CW systems displayed the different vertical change trends for either n-damo community abundance or diversity. In addition, CW n-damo community structure could change with wetland layer depth. At a given wetland layer depth, the evident difference of n-damo community abundance, diversity and structure could be observed in the five different CW systems. Both wetland layer depth and vegetation type could contribute to the shift of n-damo bacterial abundance and community structure in CWs.