Question: what is the difference between nitrate reduction and denitrification?
Answer: In general, it occurs where oxygen is depleted and bacteria respire nitrate as a substitute terminal electron acceptor. ... Denitrification is performed primarily by heterotrophic bacteria (e.g. Paracoccus denitrificans), although autotrophic denitrifiers have also been identified (e.g., Thiobacillus denitrificans).