Microbial community responses to DNAPL contamination in groundwater

This project investigates the structure, assembly processes, and interaction networks of bacterial communities in groundwater systems impacted by dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) contamination. Groundwater samples were collected from a historically polluted site in eastern coast of China. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was employed to analyze microbial composition and diversity under varying degrees of contamination. The study aims to elucidate how DNAPL-related stressors shape microbial community assembly and network modularity. Findings from this work contribute to a better understanding of microbial ecology in chemically stressed subsurface environments and provide insights for potential bioremediation strategies.