Analysis of microbial diversity changes in the Guadalquivir Marshes associated with agricultural exploitation

The Guadalquivir Marshes represent one of the most important areas of the Iberian Peninsula, both environmentally and economically, as they encompass Donana National Park and the largest rice paddies in Europe. Since the early 1950s, parts of this natural wetland have been progressively converted into intensively managed rice fields. Today, rice cultivation extends over approximately 40,000 hectares, making it one of the region's most significant agricultural activities.In a previous study conducted by our research group, we analyzed the microbial composition of these soils using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and found a high proportion of microorganisms associated with the transformation of nitrogen fertilizers and phytochemicals. This project aims to expand on that initial analysis by comparing the microbial ecosystems of different types of rice paddy soils with those of adjacent natural, non-anthropized soils in the region, using both NGS-based metabarcoding and metagenomic sequencing. The resulting data will be integrated into the Earth Microbiome Project database. This will allow us to better understand the influence of land use and agricultural practices on soil microbial biodiversity.The study will also be complemented by soil physicochemical analyses and assessments of microbial metabolic functionality, providing valuable insights into the conservation status of the Guadalquivir Marshes and how it has changed over time. Ultimately, the information generated will contribute key biodiversity indicators for rice-cultivated soils, supporting the implementation of sustainable development strategies and helping reduce the ecological impact of rice agriculture in the Donana region.