Nitrifying niche in estuaries is expanded by the plastisphere

Xiaoxuan Su, Xinrong Huang, Yiyue Zhang, Leyang Yang, Teng Wen, Xiaoru Yang, Guibing Zhu, Jinbo Zhang, Yijia Tang, Zhaolei Li, Jing Ding, Ruilong Li, Junliang Pan, Xinping Chen, Fuyi Huang, Matthias C. Rillig and Yong-guan Zhu ()
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Xiaoxuan Su: Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xinrong Huang: Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yiyue Zhang: Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Leyang Yang: Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Teng Wen: Nanjing Normal University
Xiaoru Yang: Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Guibing Zhu: 19A Yuquan Road
Jinbo Zhang: Nanjing Normal University
Yijia Tang: The University of Sydney
Zhaolei Li: Southwest University
Jing Ding: Yantai University
Ruilong Li: Guangxi University
Junliang Pan: Chongqing University
Xinping Chen: Southwest University
Fuyi Huang: Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Matthias C. Rillig: Institute of Biology
Yong-guan Zhu: Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract The estuarine plastisphere, a novel ecological habitat in the Anthropocene, has garnered global concerns. Recent geochemical evidence has pointed out its potential role in influencing nitrogen biogeochemistry. However, the biogeochemical significance of the plastisphere and its mechanisms regulating nitrogen cycling remain elusive. Using 15N- and 13C-labelling coupled with metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, here we unveil that the plastisphere likely acts as an underappreciated nitrifying niche in estuarine ecosystems, exhibiting a 0.9 ~ 12-fold higher activity of bacteria-mediated nitrification compared to surrounding seawater and other biofilms (stone, wood and glass biofilms). The shift of active nitrifiers from O2-sensitive nitrifiers in the seawater to nitrifiers with versatile metabolisms in the plastisphere, combined with the potential interspecific cooperation of nitrifying substrate exchange observed among the plastisphere nitrifiers, collectively results in the unique nitrifying niche. Our findings highlight the plastisphere as an emerging nitrifying niche in estuarine environment, and deepen the mechanistic understanding of its contribution to marine biogeochemistry.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50200-8

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