Organic phosphorus fractions and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria diversity in lagoon sediments: implications for phosphorus release
摘要
Mineralization of organic phosphorus (OP) in sediments serves as a significant source of phosphorus (P) for sustaining algal blooms. Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria play a crucial role in P regeneration in water. To investigate the impact of organic phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (OPB) on P release from coastal sediments, we examined the distribution of OP fractions and the community structure of OPB in sediments from Swan Lagoon (China), a lagoon affected by Chaetomorpha linum blooms. Additionally, we isolated OPB strains from this lagoon and assessed their capacity to dissolve P from sediments through a simulation experiment. The results reveal high concentrations of labile OP and moderately labile OP in the sediments of central and northeastern Swan Lagoon in Yellow Sea, Weihai, East China. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla of the OPB community in surface sediments. Soluble reactive P (SRP), pH in water, and alkaline phosphatase activity in sediments were identified as important environmental factors influencing the community structure of OPB. Eleven OPB strains, primarily belonging to Bacillus sp. and Geobacillus sp., were isolated from the sediments. During the incubation period, the concentrations of total P (TP) and SRP in overlying water were 0.02–0.64 and 0.01–0.20 mg/L, respectively. The phosphate-solubilizing ability of the two OPB strains (Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus pumilus) varied among sediments from different lake areas. In the center and northwest of Swan Lagoon, the sediments posed substantial risks of P release under the action of OPB. This study provided a foundation for understanding the mechanisms of OP regeneration in algal bloom waters.