Updated project metadata. Roothans et al., analyzed heterotrophic denitrification processes that can be an important source of nitrous oxide. We employed planktonic nitrification-inhibited denitrifying enrichment cultures under alternating oxic-anoxic conditions. The dynamic conditions resulted in a general presence of the denitrifying enzymes. Overall, we show that aerobic denitrification should not be neglected as an ecologically relevant process. Contact author: m.laureni@tudelft.nl