Coastal reclamation alters soil microbial communities following different land use patterns in the Eastern coastal zone of China

Wen Yang (Corresponding author), Nasreen Jeelani, Andong Cai, Xiaoli Cheng (Corresponding author), Shuqing An

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

Coastal reclamation seriously disturbs coastal wetland ecosystems, while its influences on soil microbial communities remain unclear. In this study, we examined the impacts of coastal reclamation on soil microbial communities based on phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) analysis following the conversion of Phragmites australis wetlands to different land use types. Coastal reclamation enhanced total soil microbial biomass and various species (i.e., gram-positive bacterial, actinomycete, saturated straight-chain, and branched PLFA) following the conversion of P. australis wetland to aquaculture pond, wheat, and oilseed rape fields. In contrast, it greatly decreased total soil microbial biomass and various species following the conversion of P. australis wetland to town construction land. Coastal reclamation reduced fungal:bacterial PLFA, monounsaturated:branched PLFA ratios, whereas increasing gram-positive:gram-negative PLFA ratio following the conversion of P. australis wetland to other land use types. Our study suggested that coastal reclamation shifted soil microbial communities by altering microbial biomass and community composition. These changes were driven primarily by variations in soil nutrient substrates and physiochemical properties. Changes in soil microbial communities following coastal reclamation impacted the decomposition and accumulation of soil carbon and nitrogen, with potential modification of carbon and nitrogen sinks in the ecosystems, with potential feedbacks in response to climate change.
Original languageEnglish
Article number7265
Number of pages14
JournalScientific Reports
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Mar 2021
Externally publishedYes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 106030 Plant ecology

Keywords

  • ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI
  • BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES
  • BIOMASS
  • DIVERSITY
  • NITROGEN
  • ORGANIC-CARBON
  • PH
  • PLANT
  • RIVER DELTA
  • SALT MARSHES

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