Native and introduced mangroves select distinct microbiomes for nitrogen and sulfur cycling

Mangrove ecosystems are considered as carbon (C)-rich, nitrogen (N)-limited and sulfur (S)-rich environments with diverse microbially-driven C, N and S cycling processes. However, little is known about the microbially-mediated N and S cycling processes in the mangrove rhizosphere. Mangrove reforestation projects are considered as a useful strategy to maintain mangrove ecosystem functioning, thus it is essential to understand if introduced mangrove species could alter the taxonomical and functional characteristics of N and S cycling microbial communities.We found that the native mangrove rhizosphere had higher salinity and higher metabolic potentials of N fixation and dissimilatory sulfate/sulfur reduction/oxidation in terms of increased abundances of functional genes and associated microbial populations involved in these pathways.