How nutrient loading leads to alternative stable states in microbially mediated N-cycle pathways: A new insight into bioavailable nitrogen removal in urban rivers

•Bistability in microbial-mediated N-cycle pathway in rivers was proved.•Reducing nutrient loading shifted N-cycle pathway to a desirable state.•The desirable pathway state characterized by high ammonification and nitrification.•The improvement of microbiota status promoted shifts to the desirable p...

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