The　effects　of　aerobic　starvation　on　nitrification　bacteria＇s　activity　and　sludge　performance　of　filamentous　bulking　sludge　were　investigated　in　an　aerobic-anoxic　SBR　process.　Ammonia-oxidizing　bacteria　(AOB)　had　a　higher　hungry　sensitivity　than　nitrite-oxidizing　bacteria　(NOB)　in　14　days　of　aerobic　starvation　process　which　was　kept　aeration　and　without　feed.　The　decay　of　AOB　[(0.420.06)　d-1]　was　higher　than　NOB　[(0.340.05)　d-1].　The　phenomenon　of　nitrite　accumulation　was　apparently　achieved　from　the　system　in　the　early　resuscitation　period.　This　phenomenon　was　due　to　that　AOB　was　able　to　keep　their　cells　in　a　state　of　readiness　where　it　was　possible　to　start　oxidizing　ammonia　almost　immediately　and　with　the　maximum　rate　after　shorter　starvation　periods.　They　were　thereby　able　to　respond　rapidly　to　changing　environmental　conditions,　which　was　reflected　by　the　higher　activity　resuscitation　rate　of　AOB　than　that　of　NOB.　In　addition,　aerobic　starvation　could　kill　filamentous　bacteria　and　improve　the　settleability　of　filamentous　bulking　sludge　quickly.　And　sludge　volume　index　(SVI)　accordingly　declined　from　170　mlg-1　to　30　mlg-1.　Extracellular　polymeric　substances　(EPS)　and　soluble　microbial　products　(SMP)　could　transform　into　each　other　and　became　the　source　of　carbon　and　energy　for　hungry　bacteria　to　guarantee　cell　maintenance　in　a　long　term　starvation　environment.　©,　2015,　Chemical　Industry　Press.　All　right　reserved.