WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS
An in-situ nutrient-enrichment experiment lasting about four and a half months examined bacteria at 0–2 and 5–7 cm sediment depths. Nutrient additions affected deeper bacterial diversity and composition even where porewater nutrient measurements showed limited change; sequence-based analyses suggested changes in potential metabolic functions.
WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ
Surface measurements and water chemistry alone can miss early benthic ecosystem responses. Sediment depth and microbial community change deserve attention in nutrient-impact monitoring.
CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY
Short, site-specific experiment. Predicted microbial functional potential from sequence data is not direct measurement of nutrient flux or system-wide biogeochemical performance.
SOURCE
ISME Communications — Thomson and colleagues (28 Oct 2026)
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