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Aims <p>This study aims to systematically assess soil bacterial community responses along mining-age and soil-depth gradients in coal-mining subsidence zones. Specifically, we investigate (i) patterns of bacterial α- and β-diversity, (ii) functional shifts inferred from community composition, and (iii) changes in the structural complexity of microbial co-occurrence networks. These analyses clarify microbial ecological processes under prolonged subsidence disturbance and provide guidance for soil ecosystem restoration strategies.</p> Methods <p>Soil bacterial communities were investigated across three mining histories (16, 31, and 40&#xa0;years) and three soil depth layers (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60&#xa0;cm). Succession patterns, community assembly mechanisms, and co-occurrence networks were characterized using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing combined with multivariate statistical analyses and network approaches.</p> Results <p>The results revealed a significant increase in bacterial α-diversity with longer mining age, and community structures exhibited clear temporal differentiation driven by environmental variables such as total nitrogen and available phosphorus. Functional predictions suggested a succession-related shift, with nitrogen- and sulfur-reducing groups becoming dominant in later stages, reflecting microbial adaptation to oligotrophic conditions. Neutral model and ecological niche analyses demonstrated that community assembly transitioned from being predominantly stochastic to primarily deterministic over time, whereas stochastic processes still prevailed along the vertical profile. Co-occurrence network analysis suggested that with increasing mining age, bacterial associations became more interconnected, accompanied by enhanced network complexity and robustness.</p> Conclusions <p>Overall, this study highlights the dynamic responses of soil bacterial communities to spatial and temporal gradients in subsidence zones and provides a theoretical foundation for microbial management and ecological restoration.</p>

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Responses of soil bacterial community structure across mining age and soil depth scales in coal mining subsidence zones

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月24日

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  • Zhe Wang,
  • Lei Zhang,
  • Yijie An,
  • Feng Xu,
  • Shuo Li,
  • Hua Cai

摘要

Aims

This study aims to systematically assess soil bacterial community responses along mining-age and soil-depth gradients in coal-mining subsidence zones. Specifically, we investigate (i) patterns of bacterial α- and β-diversity, (ii) functional shifts inferred from community composition, and (iii) changes in the structural complexity of microbial co-occurrence networks. These analyses clarify microbial ecological processes under prolonged subsidence disturbance and provide guidance for soil ecosystem restoration strategies.

Methods

Soil bacterial communities were investigated across three mining histories (16, 31, and 40 years) and three soil depth layers (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm). Succession patterns, community assembly mechanisms, and co-occurrence networks were characterized using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing combined with multivariate statistical analyses and network approaches.

Results

The results revealed a significant increase in bacterial α-diversity with longer mining age, and community structures exhibited clear temporal differentiation driven by environmental variables such as total nitrogen and available phosphorus. Functional predictions suggested a succession-related shift, with nitrogen- and sulfur-reducing groups becoming dominant in later stages, reflecting microbial adaptation to oligotrophic conditions. Neutral model and ecological niche analyses demonstrated that community assembly transitioned from being predominantly stochastic to primarily deterministic over time, whereas stochastic processes still prevailed along the vertical profile. Co-occurrence network analysis suggested that with increasing mining age, bacterial associations became more interconnected, accompanied by enhanced network complexity and robustness.

Conclusions

Overall, this study highlights the dynamic responses of soil bacterial communities to spatial and temporal gradients in subsidence zones and provides a theoretical foundation for microbial management and ecological restoration.