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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.07.01.735803

Boosting carbon fixation and microbial dynamics in the coastal sediment ecosystem through large-scale cultivation of Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis

Pei, P.·Chen, Y.·Aslam, M.·Wu, C.·Zeng, W.·Du, H.
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Abstract

Microorganisms are the key drivers of carbon cycling in coastal marine sediment ecosystems, significantly influencing carbon storage and release during Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis cultivation. This study employed 16S rRNA sequencing, a high-throughput qPCR chip, and carbon isotope labeling to assess the impact of G. lemaneiformis cultivation on carbon cycling processes in coastal sediments. A comparative analysis was conducted between cultivated zones (GZ) of G. lemaneiformis and adjacent control zones (CZ). The results indicated that macroalgae cultivation significantly modified sediment-seawater exchange dynamics and accelerated carbon cycling within coastal marine sediment ecosystems. Furthermore, G. lemaneiformis cultivation increased the abundance of genes linked to polysaccharide degradation and carbon fixation pathways, thereby enhancing carbon cycling efficiency. The ecosystem multifunctional index, calculated based on carbon fixation gene abundance, was significantly higher in GZ compared to CZ. Incubation experiments using 13C-NaHCO3 demonstrated that cultivation markedly elevated the carbon fixation rate of sediment, emphasizing a higher potential for carbon sequestration in sedimentary environments cultivated with macroalgae. Additionally, cultivation significantly altered sediment microbial communities, simplifying their structural complexity. Key microbial taxa identified via k-core species analysis--including Subgroup10 of Desulfobacterota and MBNT15, correlated strongly with carbon fixation rates, indicating their pivotal roles in sediment carbon cycling processes. This study provides critical insights into how large-scale macroalgae cultivation influences coastal carbon dynamics and informs strategies for optimizing carbon management in aquaculture ecosystems. ImportanceGracilariopsis lemaneiformis cultivation is a widely promoted eco-aquaculture model along Southeast Chinas coast. This study finds it can drastically boost carbon sequestration efficiency in coastal sediments. Through field comparison and isotope tracing, we confirm that key carbon-fixing microbes in farmed sediments show significantly higher activity, with far stronger carbon storage potential than non-farmed zones. This research delivers direct scientific evidence for scaling up macroalgae farming to unlock new blue carbon gains, and offers a practical new solution for optimizing carbon management in aquaculture ecosystems.

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Pei, P., Chen, Y., Aslam, M., Wu, C., Zeng, W., Du, H.. 2026-07-01. Boosting carbon fixation and microbial dynamics in the coastal sediment ecosystem through large-scale cultivation of Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.01.735803

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