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Nitrates
Nitrates are typically found in the soil or in dead organic material. This organic chemical is typically not harmful to fish or plants compared to ammonia or nitrites which negatively affect life. However, nitrates can build up to toxic levels over time effecting life in freshwater settings. Nitrates are removed from the environment through denitrifying bacteria and occur in conditions where oxygen is and is not present.
Denitrification
The process of denitrification occurs when bacteria switch from using oxygen for respiration to using nitrates. These bacteria live in soil. In a freshwater environment these bacteria occur in the bottom of lakes and rivers and keep the nitrate levels of the body of water in check. During floods, bacteria in the soil which is flooded can then begin the denitrification process and convert inorganic nitrate into organic materials which can be utilized by plants and other bacteria.
Assimilation
Assimiliation is a type of denitrification that occurs in a series of steps. The first step is a reduction reaction, which changes nitrate back into nitrite. The nitrite is then reduced further into ammonia or ammonium. These compound can then be absorbed by plants. These compounds are used by the plants to create amino acids which make proteins and even DNA and are vital for life.
Dissimilation
Dissimilation is a different type of reduction reaction which occurs that rapidly converts nitrate into nitrogen gas which is then released back into the atmosphere. This occurs when the nitrate acts as an electron acceptor and is reduced into various gases. Nitrogen gas is the major component of Earth's atmosphere, comprising over 70 percent of the air humans breath.