Effects of Soil Properties and Seasonal Variations on Microbial Communities in Constructed Wetlands

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are important ecosystems with numerous benefits such as wastewater treatment, wildlife habitat protection, and stormwater remediation. However, the development of soil microbial communities in CWs over time remains understudied. This study comprehensively investigates microbial diversity and community composition in three constructed wetlands, focusing on the influence of wetland age, soil depth, and environmental factors. The results indicate that both soil depth and seasonal variations significantly affect alpha diversity, particularly in surface soils. The predominant microbial communities, including nitrifying and denitrifying communities, were identified across the studied wetlands. Moreover, sulfate-rich conditions may promote sulfur autotrophic denitrification. Redundancy analysis and multiple linear regression highlighted the distinction between autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrifiers. Soluble organic carbon was identified as a major factor influencing heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria, while sulfate and nitrate levels were more closely associated with autotrophic denitrifying bacteria. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into microbial community dynamics in CWs and can help optimize wetland management strategies for improved nutrient removal efficiency.