Comammox and AOA responses to ammonia loading rate in oligotrophic environments

Nitrification is a central process in the global nitrogen cycle, yet the ecological niches and growth strategies of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in oligotrophic environments remain poorly understood. To investigate the ecological responses of complete ammonia oxidizers (Comammox) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), a membrane bioreactor (MBR) system with two distinct ammonia loading rates (ALRs) was employed in this study. Metagenomic and meta-transcriptomic analyses showed that Comammox species—including Candidatus Nitrospira nitrosa and Candidatus Nitrospira inopinata —underwent a pronounced “bloom” only at high ALR, where their DNA and mRNA relative abundances reached 4.7 % and 5.63 %, respectively. Meanwhile, AOA steadily increased under both high and low ALR in oligotrophic environments. Network analysis further indicated stronger cooperative interactions between Comammox and AOA in higher ALR, highlighting distinct ecological strategies that underpin ammonia oxidation in oligotrophic environments. These findings not only support the development of low-carbon nitrogen removal processes in wastewater treatment but also clarify the impact of nitrogen loading on the distribution of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in natural ecosystems and provide insights into the origin and evolutionary pathways of these essential microbes.