Environmental gradients drive the ecological dynamics of bacterioplankton in the East China Sea based on eDNA...

Understanding the interactions between environmental factors and ecological processes that shape bacterioplankton is a fundamental goal of microbial ecology. With increasing urbanization and environmental stress, marine coastal ecosystems necessitate careful evaluation of microbial dynamics. Environmental DNA was utilized to investigate bacterioplankton in the coastal waters of the East China Sea, revealing distinct environmental gradients that significantly shape bacterioplankton community composition. Distinct spatial differentiation of microbial assemblages was observed along these gradients, primarily driven by nitrogen-related nutrient dynamics. Furthermore, shifts in coastal habitats have driven a transition in community assembly processes from predominantly stochastic to deterministic mechanisms. Changes in environmental conditions also increase the vulnerability of offshore bacterioplankton networks, compromising their stability. These findings emphasize the critical role of environmental gradients in forming coastal microbial community composition, offering valuable insights for advancing marine ecosystem management, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable environmental policies.