Contrasting impacts of water diversion on bacteria community between artificial and natural routes of China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project
First comparative study of bacterial communities between artificial and natural water diversion routes of SNWDP. FL communities showed higher diversity and functional stability than PA ones. ERP exhibits higher a-diversity due to environmental heterogeneity and open system exchanges. Verrucomicrobiota and Cyanobacteria dominate in MRP, indicating niche adaptation to closed conduits. Algal biomass and TN are key drivers of bacterial succession and network structure across routes. Revealed route-specific longitudinal patterns of microbial community succession in two major engineered water transfer systems.