Metagenomic insights into nutrient and hypoxic microbial communities at the macrofouling/steel interface leading to severe MIC

Abstract Adherent macrofouling in marine environments caused complex corrosion of steel surfaces, resulting localized at the oyster/steel interface and uniform ascidian/steel interface. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) have been implicated microbiologically influenced (MIC) process macrofouling-covered interfaces. To better understand role biofilms as key mediators MIC process, metagenomic techniques were used to study microbial communities their response macrofouling’s coverage. Compared ascidians, formed local anaerobic zone stimulated growth SRBs, leading higher FeS content severe corrosion. SRB Desulfovibrio Desulfobulbus , along with SRB-related functional gene dsr found increase, while oxygen-related function genes coxC ccoN ccoO ccoP ccoQ decreased. In contrast, surfaces without coverage had richest communities, yet experienced less MIC, suggesting no direct connection between abundance/diversity promotion.