Effects of Escherichia coli pollution on decomposition of aquatic plants: Variation due to microbial community composition and the release and cycling of nutrients

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2021-01, Vol.401, p.123252-123252, Article 123252
• Main Authors: Wu, Jian-yi, Gu, Li, Hua, Zu-lin, Li, Xiao-qing, Lu, Ying, Chu, Ke-jian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Archaea; Escherichia coli - genetics; Exogenous E. coli; Microbial community assembly; Microbiota; Nutrient release and cycle; Nutrients; Plant decomposition; Plants
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123252

[Display omitted] •E.coli colonized on plant residues especially in N. tetragona system.•E. coli affected the microbial community structure more on P australis residues.•Archaeal networks were much more affected by E. coli than bacterial networks.•The methanogenic and denitrification process were inhibited by E. coli during decomposition. Determination of the effects of Escherichia coli (E. coli) pollution on agricultural pond ecosystems with vegetation at different life stages is essential for the protection of ecological functions. However, no comprehensive study has yet shown the responses of epiphytic microbial communities to E. coli invasion during plant decay. Thus, this study was conducted to clarify variation in the decay of the following aquatic plants—Myriophyllum aquaticum, Nymphaea tetragona and Phragmites australis after E. coli pollution. Exogenous E. coli especially shifted the epiphytic microbial composition and distribution of P. australis. Stronger effects of E. coli on the archaeal community (edges/nodes = 0.818  1, modularity = 1.291 > 0.654; higher clustered, 0.593). During plant decomposition, E. coli weakened methanogenesis by regulating the network of core genera Methanobacterium and Methanospirillum (spearman, P