Enhanced sediment microbial diversity in mangrove forests: Indicators of nutrient status in coastal ecosystems

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 211; p. 117421
• Main Authors: Li, Baorui, Xia, Yanling, Chen, Xuezhen, Wang, Jue, Liu, Wenhe, Wang, Zhiyuan, Su, Zhinan, Ren, Han
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2025
• Subjects: Bacteria; Biodiversity; Carbon sinks; cation exchange capacity; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; enzymes; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Geologic Sediments - microbiology; Marine ecosystems; marine pollution; microbial communities; Microbial diversity; Microbiota; Nitrogen - analysis; Nutrients - analysis; Organic matter; phosphorus; Phosphorus - analysis; plant nutrition; potassium; seagrasses; Sedimentary nutrients; sediments; total nitrogen; Wetlands; Carbon sinks; Sedimentary nutrients; Microbial diversity; Marine ecosystems; Organic matter
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117421

Coastal ecosystems are increasingly threatened by nutrient imbalances and environmental degradation, which can compromise their stability and productivity. We analyzed the sediment characteristics, microbial community structures, and nutrient cycling across three habitats: mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and bare beaches. The physicochemical properties (including pH, total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)) of the sediment samples were analyzed, and the microbial diversity was assessed using high-throughput sequencing. Our findings indicated that the organic matter (OM), TN, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of mangrove sediments were significantly higher than those of seagrass beds and bare beaches. The microbial community in mangroves was positively correlated with OM content and was more complex and stable than that in seagrass beds and bare beaches. MG potentially improved the abundance of k00059 and enzyme 1.1.1.100 in sediment bacteria and further increased sediment TN, OM, and CEC. This study indicates the importance of microbial diversity as a potential indicator of sediment and plant nutrient status, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts to preserve mangrove ecosystems. •Mangrove sediments have higher organic matter and nutrient levels than other coastal habitats.•Microbial communities in mangroves exhibit greater complexity and stability.•Microbial diversity indicates sediment and plant nutrient status effectively.•Mangrove potentially improved the abundance of k00059 and enzyme 1.1.1.100, and further increased specific sediment nutrient.