@article {Dionisi:2001:1938-6478:501, author = "Dionisi, H.M. and Layton, A.C. and Gregory, I.R. and Parker, J.J. and Robinson, K.G. and Sayler, G.S.", title = "Quantification of Ammonia- and Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria using competitive PCR in Bench Scale Wastewater Treatment Reactors at Different Biological Solids Retention Times", journal = "Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation", volume = "2001", number = "11", year = "2001", abstract = "The effect of solids retention time on ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria was measured by amoA and Nitrospira 16S rDNA competitive PCR assays in a completemix, bench-scale, activated sludge system. During steady-state operation, nitrification was complete in 20-and 10- day BSRT reactors, nearly complete in the 5-day BSRT reactor and incomplete in the 2-day BSRT reactor (80% ammonia removal and 80% nitrite oxidation). Total bacterial 16S rDNA, measured by dot blot hybridizations, ranged from 4.0 × 1013 to 1 × 1012 copies per liter, and decreased with decreasing solids retention times. Nitrospira 16S rDNA was 5 to 40 fold higher than amoA and ranged from 3.3 × 1010 to 2 × 109 Nitrospira copies per liter and 1 × 1010 to <8 × 107 amoA copies per liter. The data suggest a minimum of 1 × 1010 Nitrospira 16S rDNA and 9 × 108 amoA copies per liter are need for complete nitrification.", pages = "501-515", url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/wef/wefproc/2001/00002001/00000011/art00037" }