Metabolism regulates spatial distribution patterns of different microbial taxonomic groups in chlorinated aliphatic...

A mechanistic understanding of the distribution and role of subsurface microbial communities is crucial for sustainable environmental management. Bioremediation of chlorinated solvents relies on the bioactivity of organohalide-respiring bacteria and their interaction with syntrophic members. However, the spatial distribution pattern and its influencing factors of these members remain poorly understood. In this study, Distance-decay relationship (DDR) models and Sloan's neutral community models (NCM) were employed to quantify spatial turnover rates and stochastic processes of different taxa in chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. Incorporating metagenomic analysis and machine learning, this study highlights the contribution of genomic information and reveals how genetic potential for functional mechanisms may relate to distinct spatial distribution patterns. Findings indicate that metabolic potential, rather than environmental preference, primarily governs the heterogeneous distribution of different taxa. Archaeal syntrophic members, Bathyarchaeia, was identified as a potential reliable target for improving bioremediation efficiency. Correlation between parameters of different models suggests that dispersal ability plays an important role in the variation of spatial turnover rate. This was further supported by LASSO regression models in which genomic features relevant to biofilm formation, dormancy, and DNA repair pathways were identified as key predictors of spatial turnover. These findings not only offer actionable insights for enhancing bioremediation strategies at chlorinated solvent-contaminated sites but also demonstrate the potential of incorporating genomic features to understand microbial biogeography.