An　integrated　approach　to　enhance　and　maintain　high　anammox　activity　and　abundance　in　an　upflow　anaerobic　sludge　blanket　(UASB)　treating　low　strength　wastewater　under　moderate　and　low　temperatures　was　developed.　A　quantitative　PCR　assay　showed　the　abandance　of　anammox　bacteria　to　be　1.68　+/-　0.08　x　10(9)　copies/ml　in　mixed　liquor　when　the　temperature　was　30　degrees　C　and　was　maintained　at　the　level　of　1.93　+/-　0.41　x　10(9)　copies/ml　in　mixed　liquor　at　16　degrees　C.　A　nitrogen　removal　rate　(NRR)　of　up　to　5.72　kg　N/m(3)/d　was　achieved　with　a　hydraulic　retention　time　(HRT)　of　0.12　h　at　30　degrees　C,　while　nitrite　and　ammonium　removal　efficiencies　were　94.35%　and　92.81%,　respectively.　NRR　decreased　with　a　decrease　in　temperature　and　was　maintained　at　2.28　kg　N/m(3)/d　with　an　HRT　of　0.28　h　when　at　16　degrees　C,　while　nitrite　and　ammonium　removal　efficiencies　were　92.31%　and　78.45%,　respectively.　The　emission　rate　of　the　greenhouse　gas　N2O　was　below　0.006%　of　the　NRR　in　the　anammox　UASB　reactor　treating　low　strength　wastewater.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.