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Analysis of bacterial community distribution characteristics in the downstream section of a cross confluence in a polluted urban channel

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Abstract

Channel confluences are common in urban rivers and caused complex hydrodynamic conditions in the downstream section, significantly influencing the distribution of pollutants and the microbial community. So far, the principles of bacterial community assembly and their linkages with environmental factors are poorly understood. In the present study, the hydrodynamic and pollution conditions were investigated in a typical channel confluence of an urban river in the Yangtze River delta area, China, and their impacts on the bacterial community structure in the water and sediment were characterized using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing technology. Based on the results, the flow velocity was the crucial factor influencing the dispersal of nutrients, organic compounds, and bacterial communities in the river water. Moreover, the sediments exhibited higher α-diversity and bacterial richness for nitrogen and sulfur cycling than the water. In addition to flow velocity, the contents of total organic carbon, total phosphorus, and heavy metals determined the sediment bacterial communities at varying depths. The predictive analysis of functional gene category indicated differences between the water and sediment communities in metabolic potentials and pathogen risk and provided guidance for water pollution control and the eco-remediation of urban rivers.

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

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Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge the support from Jiangsu Graduate Student Workstation (Suzhou Hongyu Environment Technology Co., LTD.), China.

Funding

This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (No. BK20211339); Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu High Education, China (No. 21KJB610016); Suzhou Social Development Science and Technology Innovation Project, China (No. SS202114); and Suzhou Construction Technology Project, China (No. SZJ202129503).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, No. 1 Kerui Road, Suzhou, 215009, People’s Republic of China

      Xin Jin, Jing Jiang, Lei Zhang, Guangyu Shi, Xueyan Li, Longfei Zhang, Xuyu Chen & Feiyue Qian

    2. Foshan Nanhai Suzhou University of Science and Technology Environmental Research Institute, No. 16 Guangming Avenue, Foshan, 528225, People’s Republic of China

      Xin Jin, Jing Jiang, Lei Zhang, Guangyu Shi, Longfei Zhang, Xuyu Chen & Feiyue Qian

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    1. Xin Jin
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    Contributions

    Xin Jin: writing—original draft, data curation. Jing Jiang: writing—original draft. Lei Zhang: data curation, writing—review and editing. Guangyu Shi: writing—review and editing. Xueyan Li: Supervision, writing—review and editing. Longfei Zhang: data curation. Xuyu Chen: data curation. Feiyue Qian: resources, conceptualization, writing—review and editing.

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    Correspondence to Feiyue Qian.

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    Jin, X., Jiang, J., Zhang, L. et al. Analysis of bacterial community distribution characteristics in the downstream section of a cross confluence in a polluted urban channel. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 43677–43689 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-25462-2

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