The Impacts of Human Activities on the Functional Ecology of Coastal Microbial Communities

Dear Colleagues,

Marine microorganisms are fundamental to the health and sustainability of marine ecosystems, playing essential roles in nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and supporting biodiversity. However, the accelerating pace of human activities, such as industrial pollution, agricultural runoff, overfishing, climate change, and coastal development, is increasingly disrupting these vital microbial communities' diversity, structure, and functionality. These disruptions pose significant risks to marine ecological balance and these microorganisms' services, including biogeochemical cycling and environmental protection.

This Special Issue, entitled “The Impacts of Human Activities on the Functional Ecology of Coastal Microbial Communities", aims to address how anthropogenic influences affect microbial diversity and the broader marine ecological environment. It will explore the impact of pollutants, habitat loss, eutrophication, and climate-driven changes on microbial ecosystems from coastal areas to the deep ocean. Additionally, it seeks to highlight the role of new technologies, such as metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, single-cell genomics, and ecological modeling, in advancing our understanding of marine microbial dynamics. Contributions focusing on how human-induced changes in marine environments can be mitigated are encouraged. This Special Issue welcomes original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that provide novel insights into these pressing issues.

Dr. Qiuzhen Wang
Dr. Xinlong An
Prof. Dr. Guangyi Wang
Guest Editors

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