Abstract
Extensive production and application of magnetic minerals introduces significant amounts of magnetic wastes into the environment. Exposure to magnetic minerals could affect microbial community composition and geographic distribution. Here, we report that magnetic susceptibility is involved in determining bacterial α-diversity and community composition in surface sediment across the Bohai Sea by high-throughput sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. The results showed that environmental factors (explained 9.80%) played a larger role than spatial variables (explained 6.72%) in conditioning the bacterial community composition. Exposure to a magnetite center may shape the geographical distribution of five dissimilatory iron reducing bacteria. The microbial iron reduction ability and electroactive activity in sediment close to a magnetite center are stronger than those far away. Our study provides a novel understanding for the response of DIRB and electroactive bacteria to magnetic minerals exposure.
Highlights
The Bohai Sea is a large and semi-enclosed shallow water basin (15–30 m depth), with an area of 7.7 × 104 km2 [1]
The bacterial community composition was correlated with environmental factors and was affected by salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), χlf, Fe, and TOC (Figure 1E and Table 2)
We found that Betaproteobacteria prefer this kind of environment and this might be related to Fe (II) oxidization
Summary
The Bohai Sea is a large and semi-enclosed shallow water basin (15–30 m depth), with an area of 7.7 × 104 km2 [1]. It includes Bohai Bay, Liaodong Bay, and Laizhou Bay, and connects with the ocean through the Bohai Strait. Over 40 rivers run into the Bohai Sea from the three main bays. This coastal region is considered one of the most densely urbanized and industrialized zones in China [3,4]. The coastal regions contain sediments of mainly terrestrial provenance arising from river discharges, inlets, and estuaries, as a result of runoff from the adjacent land [2,4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
