Ecology of Planktonic Microbes in the Mussel Aquaculture Zone, Gouqi Island, Zhoushan

Marine planktonic bacteria are vital to ecosystem health, yet the influence of mussel aquaculture on the structure of surrounding planktonic microbial communities remains poorly understood. To investigate the effects of mussel farming on community structure, diversity, and assembly mechanisms of planktonic bacteria, we collected planktonic microbial samples from both within the mussel farming area and adjacent non-farming waters in Shengsi, Zhejiang, during the summer of 2024. A systematic analysis was subsequently performed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.