Dynamics and Ecological Function of Marine Microbial Communities

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025 | Viewed by 30

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
Interests: marine microbiology; microbial ecology; marine biogeochemical cycles; marine biocorrosion; marine pollution
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Guest Editor
College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
Interests: marine microbiology; environmental toxicology; aquaculture; aquatic animal nutrition and feed

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Guest Editor
Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: marine microbiology; microbial ecology; marine aquaculture; antibiotic resistance; environmental pollution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Marine microbial communities, which comprise bacteria, archaea, microscopic eukaryotes, and viruses, play a fundamental role in the structure, function, and sustainability of ocean ecosystems. Nutrient cycling, primary production, organic matter decomposition, and many other critical ecological processes vital for supporting marine food webs, ecosystem services, and global climate regulation are driven by the functions of microbial communities. The dynamics of microbial communities are largely affected by environmental factors and intra- and interspecific interactions, along with anthropogenic disturbances such as pollution and climate change. Microbial functions are governed by complex biochemical interactions and molecular regulations, which provide the mechanisms necessary for microbial communities to adapt to changing environmental conditions. However, ocean warming, acidification, deoxygenation, and other environmental degenerations disrupt these processes and mechanisms, potentially compromising the functioning of microbial communities and ecosystems. Understanding these processes and mechanisms is essential for addressing environmental challenges such as ocean deterioration and climate change and providing insights into managing and preserving marine ecosystems. Advances in multi-omics tools, network analysis, and ecological modeling offer a holistic framework for predicting microbial dynamics and functions in a changing ocean. Ultimately, microbial engineering may provide a solution that allows us to harness marine microbial communities for sustainable resource management, environmental restoration, and climate change mitigation.

Prof. Dr. Hongyue Dang
Prof. Dr. Chunxiang Ai
Prof. Dr. Ruiyong Zhang
Dr. Xin Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • marine microbial ecology
  • microbial community dynamics
  • microbial community functioning
  • marine biogeochemical cycling
  • mariculture microbiology
  • marine biocorrosion
  • microbial bioremediation
  • microbial engineering
  • microbial geoengineering
  • effects of climate change on microbiology

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