Sulfate removal performance and co-occurrence patterns of microbial community in constructed wetlands treating saline wastewater

The migration and transformation of sulfur is closely related to carbon sources. However, knowledge on the co-occurrence patterns of sulfur-related bacteria and other carbon-consuming microorganisms in constructed wetlands (CWs) is limited. In this study, CWs with intertidal wetland sediments (IWS), as microbial inoculant, was constructed to investigate the sulfate and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rates, microbial community composition, and co-occurrence network. IWS-enhanced CWs planted with Phragmites australis (PA+) and unplanted ones (CT+) were set up with controls (PA and CT). Results showed that the sulfate removal rate was higher in PA+ (60.60% ± 0.80%) than PA (44.64% ± 2.72%). The sulfate removal rate decreased and that of COD increased in PA+ and PA when the influent sulfate concentrations were raised. Microbial analysis indicated that the numbers of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB), and carbon-degrading bacteria improved the removal efficiency of sulfate in PA+ and CT+. The microbial topological pattern revealed that the exchange of matter, energy, and information by microorganisms in PA+ and CT+ was faster than that in PA and CT. The co-occurrence network analysis indicated that SRB (e.g., unclassified Desulfuromonadaceae) harbored negative correlations with denitrifying bacteria (e.g., Thauera, Flavobacterium, and unclassified Burkholderiaceae) because of electron donor competition. However, Flavobacterium and Thauera could cooperate to denitrify through different electron donors to avoid competition. Moreover, Pseudomonas and Amaricoccus had cross-feeding and cooperation in the network when carbon was restricted.