Sulfur reduction-oxidation functional microorganisms and vertical distribution characteristics in grass carp aquaculture pond sediments

WU Zhao-xing; TIAN Zhao-hui; CHEN Yan; PAN Zhe

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China Environmental Science ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (3) : 1522-1532.

Sulfur reduction-oxidation functional microorganisms and vertical distribution characteristics in grass carp aquaculture pond sediments

WU Zhao-xing^1,2, TIAN Zhao-hui², CHEN Yan², PAN Zhe¹

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Abstract

The present study was conducted in typical grass carp aquaculture ponds in northern China. The characteristics of the vertical distribution of environmental factors, key sulfur reduction-oxidation functional genes, and microbial communities were analyzed through in-situ measurement, physicochemical analysis, and metagenomic sequencing. The results showed that the sulfur-reducing functional genes (sat, aprA, asrA, phsA) and microorganisms (g_NA_c_Deltaproteobacteria) were enriched, whereas sulfur-oxidizing functional genes (fccB, sqr) and microorganisms (g_Thiobacillus, g_Thioalkalivibrio, g_NA_o_Hydrogenophilales) were reduced in grass carp pond sediments compared with control pond. As for the vertical distribution, the abundances of sulfur reduction-oxidation genes (dsrA, asrA, fccB, phsA, soxX/Z) and their dominant genera significantly decreased along sediment depth in both grass carp and control ponds (P < 0.05). The network analysis indicated that the interactions of sulfur reduction-oxidation functional microflora were decreased in grass carp ponds compared with control ponds. Mantel tests revealed that TN, ORP, NH+ 4, and TOC were significantly positively correlated with genes and microbial communities involved in sulfur reduction-oxidation (P < 0.05). The removal of organic matter, as well as the improvement of redox conditions in sediment might be effective ways to mitigate the risks of sulfide accumulation and water quality deterioration in grass carp aquaculture ponds.

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sediment / vertical distribution / sulfur reduction-oxidation / functional microorganisms / metagenome / freshwater aquaculture ponds

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WU Zhao-xing, TIAN Zhao-hui, CHEN Yan, PAN Zhe. Sulfur reduction-oxidation functional microorganisms and vertical distribution characteristics in grass carp aquaculture pond sediments[J]. China Environmental Science. 2026, 46(3): 1522-1532

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