Assembly Dynamics and Functional Divergence of Anaerobic Communities Driven by Iron Oxides.

Iron oxide type determines microbial community diversity and composition, with magnetite fostering the highest richness and Pseudomonas_A dominance in anaerobic systems.

• Why it matters: Understanding how mineral properties influence microbial assembly is crucial for predicting biogeochemical cycles and environmental processes driven by iron oxides.
• What they did: Metagenomic profiling of communities enriched from activated sludge on four iron oxides revealed mineral-dependent divergence in structure and function, including methane production and Fe(III) reduction.
• The result: Findings show mineral identity shapes community assembly and biogeochemical outcomes, enabling better prediction and manipulation of microbial processes in iron-rich environments.