WANG Jin , LEI Kaineng , WU Xiaoyan , ZHENG Chunli
(Energy and Environment School , Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology , Baotou 014010 , China)
Abstract : The current research of microbial processes in the carbon cycle of soil ecosystems in mining areas needs to be improved. The aim of this study was to characterize the composition of functional genes associated with the microbial carbon cycle in soil using macro- genome sequencing , and determine the correlation between these genes and environmental factors . The results revealed that the pre- dominant soil microbial carbon cycle functional genes were those related to the citric acid reduction cycle , dicarboxylic acid/4-hydroxy- butyrate cycle , 3-hydroxypropionic acid double cycle carbon sequestration genes , acetic acid fermentation-based methanogenesis genes , and aerobic oxidation methane genes . Additionally , correlation analysis identified Rare Earth content , pH , redox potential , and total nitrogen as the primary factors influencing the microbial carbon cycle genes , with Rare Earth content demonstrating a significant nega- tive correlation with the highest proportion of microbial carbon cycle functional genes (P < 0. 05) , suggesting that Rare Earth elements attenuated some of the microbial carbon cycle functions . This study contributes to understanding the theoretical framework for microbial carbon cycling processes in soils from Rare Earth mining areas .
Key words : Rare Earth mining area; microorganisms; Carbon cycling genes; composition characteristics