Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus addition on mangrove soil bacterial diversity and composition in field-based fertilisation experiments

Growing human populations have led to increased eutrophication of estuarine and coastal waters due to nutrient inputs from urban, industrial and agricultural sources. Mangrove forests, situated in the inter-tidal zone, can be subjected to these elevated nutrients and there is interest in understanding how this might impact mangrove ecosystems and the services that they provide. The aim of this study was to assess how addition of N and/or P affect the composition and diversity of mangrove soil bacterial communities under field conditions. This was achieved by assessing soil bacterial community composition at two fertilisation experiment sites in Florida with differing soil types: a sandy site low in nutrients and organic matter, and a peaty site of high organic matter content.