Microenvironments are Responsible for the Changes in Weathering Phenotypes and Populations of Mineral-Weathering Bacteria

In this study, biodiversity, structure, and mineral weathering potential of bacterial communities from five contrasting microenvironments (including less (LR) and more altered rocks (MR) and Deyeuxia arundinacea-associated environments such as the rhizosphere soils (RS) and root interiors (RI) of the plant and the bulk soils (BS)) were analysed.The results indicated that bacterial communities from BS and RS displayed higher levels of diversity than those of RI and MR, and the bacterial diversity of LR was lowest. Bacterial community was microenvironment-related. The major mineral weathering mechanisms of bacterial communities were microhabitats-related. In general, the weathering potential of bacterial communities from bulk and rhizosphere soils, and root interiors of Deyeuxia arundinacea was significantly higher than those of the rock samples, and the mineral weathering potential of bacterial communities of more altered rock samples was significantly higher than those of less altered rock samples.