Habitat Disturbance Drives the Feedback of Aquatic Plants on the Microbial Community after Lake Degradation

Abstract

Globally intensified lake system degradation has been attributed to high-intensity disturbance and emerged as a significant driver of the declines in lake biodiversity and ecosystem stability. However, potential alterations in feedback mechanisms between aquatic plants and microorganisms after ecological succession are still unclear. This study delves into the influence of aquatic plants on sediment bacterial diversity and nutrient dynamics across different growth phases using Illumina MiSeq sequencing and diffusive gradients in thin film analysis. Our results indicate that the surface temperature of the research area has increased from 20 to 28 °C over the past 25 years, and the dominant species has shifted to Stuckenia pectinata. Constructive species show responsive changes in their organ’s stoichiometric characteristics to adapt to environmental changes. The growth of S. pectinata could affect the diffusion fluxes of NH₄⁺–N, NO₃^––N, P, and Fe at the sediment–water interface. Morever, the deterministic processes of environmental filtering and competition may have altered the microorganisms in the rhizosphere of S. pectinata, temperature, and water depth were major drivers of seasonal microbial changes. These results in the driver-response relationship of multiple stressors in the lake ecosystem may contribute to the development of engineering projects focusing on restoring aquatic plants.