Microbial communities have a central role in many ecosystem functions such as biogeochemical cycling. Large variation in N-fluxes has been widely documented, mirroring the complexity of the underlying mechanisms. However, application of molecular biology approaches during the last decade has given the opportunity to look beyond these fluxes and to study the genetic and the ecology of the microorganisms involved in N-cycling. In this talk, I will give examples of a trait-centered approach for bridging microbial community ecology, microbial processes and ecosystem functioning.