Comparative analysis reveals distinct microbial community profiles and assembly mechanisms in sediments of coastal wetland ecosystems.

Microbial communities in coastal wetlands show distinct diversity, composition, and assembly mechanisms, with mangroves exhibiting the highest richness among three ecosystems.

• Why it matters: Understanding microbial diversity and assembly processes in these ecosystems is vital for predicting their resilience and functions amid climate change and human impacts, yet comprehensive global data has been lacking.
• What they did: Analyzing 1,381 16S rRNA gene datasets, the study identified habitat-specific taxa, network structures, functional potentials, and assembly processes, highlighting differences among mangroves, saltmarshes, and seagrasses.
• The result: Findings reveal that stochastic drift predominantly shapes community assembly, but environmental factors also influence structure, providing insights for conservation and predicting ecosystem responses to environmental pressures.