Exploring Wetland Microbial Communities and Processes for Enhanced Wastewater Treatment: Bibliometric Review

The generation of wastewater has surpassed the capacity of existing conventional treatment methods, creating a significant gap that requires immediate attention. The need for ecologically and economically effective decentralized wastewater treatment approaches has become increasingly apparent, especially in regions lacking resources and infrastructure. A promising solution to bridge the gap in wastewater treatment capacity is the use of natural and constructed wetlands that leverage the ability of plants and microbes to remediate contaminated water while providing sustainable solutions to address the global water crisis. The use of wetland systems presents an opportunity to sustainably manage wastewater through cost-effective and environmentally friendly means. Microorganisms play a pivotal role in these wetland systems by supporting plant growth, catalyzing chemical reactions and processes like biodegradation, bioaccumulation, and biosorption, etc. Understanding the roles of microbial communities in wetlands and their impact on pollutant removal can provide valuable insights for enhancing the treatment efficiency of wetlands. To explore functional microbial communities in these systems, a bibliometric analysis using the keywords "Wetland" and "Microorganisms" in the "Title" was performed to evaluate recent research trends and answer pertinent research questions. Proteobacteria , Bacteroidetes , Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were most abundant phylum discovered in wetlands. These organisms facilitate the transformation and mineralization of pollutants by metabolizing nutrients and organic pollutants through various processes such as nitrification, denitrification, sulfate reduction, and methanogenesis, etc. The analysis indicates the importance of further research in exploring functional microorganisms, microbial community dynamics, and their interaction with plants and other wetland components.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-025-01496-7.