Microbial dynamics in seagrass restoration: Unveiling hidden indicators of ecological success

Abstract

Seagrass transplantation significantly alters sediment microbial communities, shaping their composition and metabolic functions. One year after Zostera marina transplantation, the microbial community structure and functions at the recipient site began shifting toward those of the donor site. Key microbial taxa associated with seagrass meadow sediment, such as Firmicutes (Hungateiclostridiaceae, Defluviitaleaceae) and Campylobacterota (Sulfurovum), increased in abundance, correlating with sediment organic matter content and carbon availability. Four functional groups were identified, each with distinct metabolic roles: (1) Opportunistic Anaerobic Degraders, (2) Seagrass-Driven Carbon Recyclers, (3) Anaerobic Fermenters and Hydrocarbon Recyclers and (4) Oxygen-Linked Carbon and Sulfur Cyclers.

The sediments of transplanted Z. marina meadows exhibited increased cellulolysis and aerobic chemoheterotrophy, along with a reduction in nitrogen metabolism one year post transplant. Despite these microbial shifts, sediment isotopic signatures remained indicative of algal biomass, suggesting an incomplete transition toward a mature seagrass environment. Multivariate analysis further confirmed that the microbial community at the recipient site had not yet fully converged with that of the donor meadow, indicating that complete sediment maturation may require longer timescales. These findings demonstrate that microbial community composition and functional annotations serve as early indicators of seagrass restoration success. Long-term monitoring is essential to track ecosystem recovery and assess the stabilization of sediment conditions.