Marine Microorganisms and Marine Ecology

Dear Colleagues,

Marine microorganisms represent the most abundant and dynamic components of the Earth's biosphere. They serve as the ‘engine room’ of the ocean, driving global biogeochemical cycles and maintaining the stability of marine ecosystems. In an era defined by rapid climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressures, understanding the functional diversity and ecological roles of these microscopic entities has never been more critical.

As Guest Editors, we are pleased to announce a new Special Issue titled ‘Marine Microorganisms and Marine Ecology’ in the journal Microorganisms (IF: 4.2, ISSN 2076-2607). This Special Issue aims to gather cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews that explore the complex interactions between marine microbes and their environments, ranging from coastal waters to the deep sea.

Scope and Research Interests

We invite original research articles, short communications, and reviews focusing on the following key areas:

1. Microbial diversity and community succession;
2. Microbes in biogeochemical cycling;
3. Host–microbe and host–environmental interactions;
4. Discovery of bioactive compounds and biotechnological potential;
5. Analysis of secondary metabolites;
6. CRISPR multi-gene target editing technology;
7. Microbiome-mediated health and resilience in mariculture;
8. Marine snow- and particle-associated microbial processes;
9. Microbial bioindicators and ecosystem health assessment;
10. Machine learning and AI-driven predictive microbial ecology.

Submission Goals

Our goal is to provide a multidisciplinary platform for scientists to share insights that bridge the gap between fundamental microbial biology and global ecological conservation. We seek studies that provide mechanistic insights rather than purely descriptive surveys.

All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the highest scientific quality and impact. We look forward to receiving your contributions and collectively advancing our understanding of the invisible giants that shape our blue planet.

Dr. Yingchun Mu
Dr. Lei Huang
Dr. Xin Hu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.