Spatial difference in phoD-harboring bacterial landscape between soils and sediments along the Yangtze River

Deciphering biogeographical patterns of alkaline phosphatase (phoD)-harboring bacteria is essential to under-stand organic phosphorus mineralization. However, it is poorly understood about distribution pattern and di-versity maintenance mechanisms ofphoD-harboring bacteria (PHB) in watershed ecosystems. Here, we estimated ecological processes shaping landscape of PHB in soils and sediments along the Yangtze River. The PHB com-munity similarity decayed against higher geographical distance at taxonomic and phylogenetic levels, and larger compositional variation in PHB community were found in sediments only. The PHB displayed higher & alpha;-di-versities, broader environmental breadths, higher community stability, and stronger species replacement in soils. Conversely, PHB showed stronger phylogenetic signals in sediments. Stochastic and differentiating processes dominated community assemblies of PHB in both soils and sediments. Electrical conductivity displayed decisive roles in shaping PHB diversity for soils and sediments at taxonomic and phylogenetic levels. Our results emphasized differences in distribution patterns of PHB between soils and sediments, and highlighted ecological processes shaping landscapes of PHB in soils and sediments along the Yangtze River. The phosphorus cycling-related findings might be helpful to estimate ecological potential of a watershed ecosystem and could provide new insights for ecological protection policy for the Yangtze River.

Automated summary

Understanding the distribution patterns and diversity maintenance mechanisms of phoD-harboring bacteria (PHB) is crucial for studying organic phosphorus mineralization. This study investigated the ecological processes shaping the landscape of PHB in soils and sediments along the Yangtze River, finding that PHB community similarity declined with increasing geographical distance and that sediments exhibited greater compositional variation. PHB in soils had higher alpha-diversities, broader environmental breadths, higher community stability, and stronger species replacement, while PHB in sediments showed stronger phylogenetic signals. Stochastic and differentiating processes were dominant in community assemblies of PHB in both soils and sediments. Electrical conductivity played a decisive role in shaping PHB diversity. These findings highlight the differences in distribution patterns of PHB between soils and sediments and provide insights into ecological processes in these ecosystems.