Vertically co-distributed vanadium and microplastics drive distinct microbial community composition and assembly in...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Soil Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• Vanadium (V) and microplastics pose significant ecological threats.
• Limited understanding of their vertical co-distribution and combined effects on soil microbial communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the spatial distribution of V and microplastics in a soil profile.
• Analyze the impact on microbial community dynamics and assembly.

Main Methods:

• Soil sampling along a vertical gradient at a V smelting site.
• Analysis of V and microplastic concentrations.
• Characterization of microbial community composition and assembly processes.

Main Results:

• V and microplastics detected throughout the 50 cm soil profile.
• Distinct microbial communities in topsoil (0-20 cm) and subsoil (20-50 cm).
• Metal-tolerant and organic-degrading taxa abundant in topsoil.
• Direct impact of V and microplastics on topsoil microbes; indirect impact on subsoil microbes.
• Deterministic assembly in topsoil, stochastic in subsoil.
• Closer interspecific relationships and higher network complexity in topsoil.

Conclusions:

• V and microplastics exhibit distinct vertical co-distribution patterns in soils.
• These contaminants directly and indirectly influence soil microbial community structure and assembly.
• Understanding soil heterogeneity is crucial for assessing contaminant impacts.