Competition between heterotrophic and autotrophic nitrifiers for ammonia in chemostat cultures
Mixed cultures of a heterotrophic nitrifier/aerobic denitrifier, Thiosphaera pantotropha, and an autotrophic nitrifier, Nitrosomonas europaea, were grown in chemostats under dual ammonia-and acetate limitation. Because of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification by T. pantotropha, the activity of the cultures was evaluated from nitrogen balances as complete as possible. Under most conditions
