Response of soil microbial respiration of tidal wetlands in the Yangtze River Estuary to different artificial disturbances

To clarify the effects of artifical disturbances on the soil microbial respiration (SMR) of existed tidal wetlands, the SMR of three typical areas in Chongming Dongtan and Jiuduansha of the Yangtze River Estuary, China, were evaluated. The causes of the differences in the SMR were also evaluated by analyzing the microbial activity factors and community structure, as well as the physical-chemical characteristics of the different wetland soils. The results showed that the SMR of the existed wetlands in the area of siltation promotion was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of the natural area. Different agricultural practices on the inner land also affected the SMR of the tidal wetlands. Overall, the results indicated that the difference in soil microbial characteristics between the artificially disturbed and natural tidal wetlands may be the primary cause of their different SMR. Path analysis indicated that the correlation between soil bacterial diversity and SMR were especially strong. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the bacterial microbial community structure in wetland soil that had been subject to artificial disturbance was changed due to the alteration of the soil physicochemical characteristics, and Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp., Uncultured Lactococcus sp. and Streptococcus sp., which have high heterotrophic metabolism or stress tolerance capability, became the dominant bacterial flora in the artificially disturbed wetland soil, ultimately strengthening the SMR. This may be the essential cause of the higher SMR in wetland soils that have been subjected to artificial disturbance, resulting in a low organic carbon accumulation capability. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.