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<p>In lake ecosystems, epiphytic multitrophic microbial communities in submerged macrophytes exert crucial effects on host plant growth. However, the mechanisms by which their food webs assemble and sustain maintain remain unexplored. This study examined three dominant macrophyte species in Caohai Lake, Guizhou Province. 16S and 18S rRNA amplicon sequencing data of epiphytic from three dominant macrophyte was used to characterize the assembly processes of epiphytic microbial food webs during summer and autumn. Our analysis identifies four key findings: (1) assembly processes displayed trophic-level specificity. The communities of metazoans, heterotrophic bacteria, protists, and fungi were shaped mainly by host-driven selection, as reflected in the host-environment effects index (HEEI) values of 1.78, 1.46, 1.29, and 1.18, respectively, whereas attached algae were influenced primarily by environmental fluctuations, demonstrating weaker host dependence (HEEI=0.57); (2) heterotrophic bacteria with a broad niche index (59.79) were predominantly structured by deterministic processes (45%), and protists with narrower niches (27.78) were affected by deterministic processes (42.2%). Host plant morphology and physiology also play an important role in modulating microbial assembly; (3) microbial food webs on <i>Potamogeton pectinatus</i> (40.99%) and <i>Najas marina</i> (46.29%) were more productive in summer, whereas those on <i>Chara vulgaris</i> (37.66%) and <i>Najas marina</i> (29.87%) exhibited greater productivity in autumn. Plants in vigorous growth phases supporting more efficient energy transfer and higher productivity; (4) food web stability primarily driven by decomposers and further regulated by host plant traits and water physicochemical parameters. Collectively, these findings highlight the regulatory role of host phenology in multitrophic assembly, energy transfer, and food web stability, providing a theoretical basis for understanding energy flow and stability maintenance in aquatic ecosystems under environmental changes.</p>

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Assembly mechanisms, trophic transfer efficiency, and stability of epiphytic microbial food webs associated with three submerged macrophytes

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月20日

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  • Qianfen Luo,
  • Chun Qing,
  • Yue Meng,
  • Guojun Cai,
  • Taotao Tang,
  • Lan Zhang,
  • Xinlian Zheng,
  • Jie Liu,
  • Pinhua Xia

摘要

In lake ecosystems, epiphytic multitrophic microbial communities in submerged macrophytes exert crucial effects on host plant growth. However, the mechanisms by which their food webs assemble and sustain maintain remain unexplored. This study examined three dominant macrophyte species in Caohai Lake, Guizhou Province. 16S and 18S rRNA amplicon sequencing data of epiphytic from three dominant macrophyte was used to characterize the assembly processes of epiphytic microbial food webs during summer and autumn. Our analysis identifies four key findings: (1) assembly processes displayed trophic-level specificity. The communities of metazoans, heterotrophic bacteria, protists, and fungi were shaped mainly by host-driven selection, as reflected in the host-environment effects index (HEEI) values of 1.78, 1.46, 1.29, and 1.18, respectively, whereas attached algae were influenced primarily by environmental fluctuations, demonstrating weaker host dependence (HEEI=0.57); (2) heterotrophic bacteria with a broad niche index (59.79) were predominantly structured by deterministic processes (45%), and protists with narrower niches (27.78) were affected by deterministic processes (42.2%). Host plant morphology and physiology also play an important role in modulating microbial assembly; (3) microbial food webs on Potamogeton pectinatus (40.99%) and Najas marina (46.29%) were more productive in summer, whereas those on Chara vulgaris (37.66%) and Najas marina (29.87%) exhibited greater productivity in autumn. Plants in vigorous growth phases supporting more efficient energy transfer and higher productivity; (4) food web stability primarily driven by decomposers and further regulated by host plant traits and water physicochemical parameters. Collectively, these findings highlight the regulatory role of host phenology in multitrophic assembly, energy transfer, and food web stability, providing a theoretical basis for understanding energy flow and stability maintenance in aquatic ecosystems under environmental changes.