Shifts in microbial community function and structure along the successional gradient of coastal wetlands in Yellow River Estuary

In this study we hypothesized that a change in the composition of vegetation communities is closely linked to a concurrent change in the function and structure of microbial communities through the plant-microbe interactions in the soil. This study was carried out in a coastal wetland along the successional gradient (Saline bare land, Suaeda salsa, Tamarix chinensis, Lionium sienense, Phragmites australis community) located in Yellow River Estuary, eastern China. The pyrosequencing was applied to the bacterial community structure studies.Our results indicated salinity may be the major environmental factor that causes the reduced number of halophilic microbes, such as the genera of Halobacillus and Bacillus. The saprophytic rhizosphere microbes, such as the genus of Arthrobacter and Flavobacteria were correlated with vegetation thickens and soil organic matter. In conclusion, our study showed a strong directional relationship between soil characteristics, vegetation and microbial communities in the succession.