Denitrification activity of microbial communities in sand-gravel sediments and biofilms developing on a concrete riverbed of an urban small stream, Nogawa River, was measured monthly by laboratory incubations after the acetylene inhibition technique during une year from December 1987. The annual mean denitrification rate of the biofilm samples, 1.5 mgN m-2 h-1. was higtrer than the rate ut the sandgravel sediment samples. 0.8 mgN m-2 h-1. Contrary, ratios of the denitrified nitrogen to the total inorganic nitrogen fluxes was lower at the stretch where an attached microbial community developed un the concrete riverbed the stretch with sand-gravel riverbed. The longer residence times of water masses ut the site with a sand-gravel riverbed is responsible for the above relationship. Based on the average denitrifieation rates, if all the channel of Nogawa River were covered with concrete, the proportion of denitrified nitrogen to the input nitrogen should decrease to 1.3 %, whereas the ratio is 2.5% when the riverbed is composed of sands and gravel. The results suggest that the efficiency of nitrogen removal by benthic denitrification is strongly affected by the structure of a channel of the river.

Optical microscope, SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and fluorescent microscope were used for qualitative and morphological studies of the attached biomass on PE (polyethylene) substratum under anaerobic condition. It was shown by the observation of optical microscope that the initial attachment of biomass began in crevices of the surface of PE. The shape and structure of the attached biofilm could be observed by SEM photographs, but species of bacteria were and methanogens were not classified. A large number of methanogenic bacteria were identified on the surface of PE substratum by fluorescence under 480nm of radiation. It was estimated that methanogenic bacteria was also related to initial attachment of biomass under anaerobic condition.