Natural Revegetation Alters Habitat Conditions, Bacterial Components, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)-Degrading Communities in Aged PAH-Polluted Soils

The vegetation restoration of contaminated sites plays a critical role in ensuring the sustained stability and functional integrity of natural ecosystems. However, during the natural revegetation process, the variations in habitat conditions, bacterial community structure, and metabolic functions in...

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Main Authors: Jinrong Huang, Heng Liang, Lilong Huang, Qi Li, Lei Ji, Yingna Xing, Chang Zhou, Jianing Wang, Xiaowen Fu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/5/1098
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author Jinrong Huang
Heng Liang
Lilong Huang
Qi Li
Lei Ji
Yingna Xing
Chang Zhou
Jianing Wang
Xiaowen Fu
author_facet Jinrong Huang
Heng Liang
Lilong Huang
Qi Li
Lei Ji
Yingna Xing
Chang Zhou
Jianing Wang
Xiaowen Fu
author_sort Jinrong Huang
collection DOAJ
description The vegetation restoration of contaminated sites plays a critical role in ensuring the sustained stability and functional integrity of natural ecosystems. However, during the natural revegetation process, the variations in habitat conditions, bacterial community structure, and metabolic functions in aged, polluted soil are still unclear. In the present study, we investigated aged, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-polluted soils at closed, abandoned oil well sites from the Yellow River Delta. Using gene amplification and real-time qPCR methods, the abundance, taxonomy, and diversity characteristics of indigenous bacterial communities and functional bacteria carrying C12O genes in both vegetated soils and bare soils were investigated. The results show that natural revegetation significantly changes the physicochemical parameters, PAH content, and bacterial community structure of aged, PAH-polluted soils. When comparing the abundance and components of PAH-degrading bacterial communities in vegetated and bare soils, the PAH-degrading potential was revealed to be stimulated by vegetation communities. Through correlation analysis, dual stress from soil salinity and PAH contamination in bacterial communities was revealed to be mediated through alterations in the soil’s physicochemical properties by local vegetation. The network analysis revealed that bacterial communities in vegetated soils have higher network connectivity. These results elucidate the alterations in habitat conditions, bacterial components, and PAH-degrading communities following vegetation restoration, providing critical insights for optimizing ecological rehabilitation strategies in salinized and contaminated ecosystems.
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spelling doaj-art-cc33c6ce56e24803ae58d5a98666cc4b2025-08-20T01:56:42ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-05-01135109810.3390/microorganisms13051098Natural Revegetation Alters Habitat Conditions, Bacterial Components, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)-Degrading Communities in Aged PAH-Polluted SoilsJinrong Huang0Heng Liang1Lilong Huang2Qi Li3Lei Ji4Yingna Xing5Chang Zhou6Jianing Wang7Xiaowen Fu8Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaShandong Environmental Sciences Environmental Engineering Co., Ltd., Jinan 250109, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, ChinaShandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaShandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaShandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaShandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaShandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaShandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaThe vegetation restoration of contaminated sites plays a critical role in ensuring the sustained stability and functional integrity of natural ecosystems. However, during the natural revegetation process, the variations in habitat conditions, bacterial community structure, and metabolic functions in aged, polluted soil are still unclear. In the present study, we investigated aged, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-polluted soils at closed, abandoned oil well sites from the Yellow River Delta. Using gene amplification and real-time qPCR methods, the abundance, taxonomy, and diversity characteristics of indigenous bacterial communities and functional bacteria carrying C12O genes in both vegetated soils and bare soils were investigated. The results show that natural revegetation significantly changes the physicochemical parameters, PAH content, and bacterial community structure of aged, PAH-polluted soils. When comparing the abundance and components of PAH-degrading bacterial communities in vegetated and bare soils, the PAH-degrading potential was revealed to be stimulated by vegetation communities. Through correlation analysis, dual stress from soil salinity and PAH contamination in bacterial communities was revealed to be mediated through alterations in the soil’s physicochemical properties by local vegetation. The network analysis revealed that bacterial communities in vegetated soils have higher network connectivity. These results elucidate the alterations in habitat conditions, bacterial components, and PAH-degrading communities following vegetation restoration, providing critical insights for optimizing ecological rehabilitation strategies in salinized and contaminated ecosystems.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/5/1098aged contaminationPAH-degrading bacteriavegetationsaline soil
spellingShingle Jinrong Huang
Heng Liang
Lilong Huang
Qi Li
Lei Ji
Yingna Xing
Chang Zhou
Jianing Wang
Xiaowen Fu
Natural Revegetation Alters Habitat Conditions, Bacterial Components, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)-Degrading Communities in Aged PAH-Polluted Soils
Microorganisms
aged contamination
PAH-degrading bacteria
vegetation
saline soil
title Natural Revegetation Alters Habitat Conditions, Bacterial Components, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)-Degrading Communities in Aged PAH-Polluted Soils
title_full Natural Revegetation Alters Habitat Conditions, Bacterial Components, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)-Degrading Communities in Aged PAH-Polluted Soils
title_fullStr Natural Revegetation Alters Habitat Conditions, Bacterial Components, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)-Degrading Communities in Aged PAH-Polluted Soils
title_full_unstemmed Natural Revegetation Alters Habitat Conditions, Bacterial Components, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)-Degrading Communities in Aged PAH-Polluted Soils
title_short Natural Revegetation Alters Habitat Conditions, Bacterial Components, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)-Degrading Communities in Aged PAH-Polluted Soils
title_sort natural revegetation alters habitat conditions bacterial components and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pah degrading communities in aged pah polluted soils
topic aged contamination
PAH-degrading bacteria
vegetation
saline soil
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/5/1098
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