Editorial: Effects of Human Activities on Microorganisms and Microbial Carbon Cycle in Coastal Waters

Yaodong He ^1* Mohan Bai ²

• ¹ Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
• ² Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China

excrement and residual feed into coastal waters, triggering algal blooms and exacerbating oxygen depletion, which destabilizes the balance of carbon storage and release. Overfishing further disrupts natural regulation by reducing fish populations that help break down organic matter, thereby altering the transfer of carbon to the atmosphere or sediments. Additionally, tourism-related activities risk introducing non-native microbial species, which may outcompete indigenous communities and compromise carbon cycle stability. These cumulative anthropogenic pressures pose systemic risks to coastal microbial ecosystems, demanding urgent scientific efforts to clarify their underlying mechanisms and cascading environmental impacts. Addressing these challenges requires global collaboration and interdisciplinary innovation. Advanced genomic tools and ecological modeling must be leveraged to decode microbial responses to pollution, eutrophication, and other stressors, informing targeted management strategies. For instance, developing integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems could mitigate nutrient overload, while stricter pollutant controls and fisheries restoration programs may revive synergistic interactions between microorganisms and macroorganisms. Cross-border biosecurity protocols are also essential to curb invasive species and preserve native microbial functions. Protecting these invisible "carbon engineers" is not merely an ecological imperative but a lifeline for civilization itself, demanding collective action to harmonize human progress with the rhythms of coastal ecosystems.