Microbiome Profiling of Red Sea Mangrove Sediments Using Full-Length 16S rRNA
This project was conducted under the scientific supervision of Dr. Waleed Mohamed El-Kazzaz, Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University. Dr. El-Kazzaz provided academic guidance throughout sample collection, molecular procedures, and data interpretation. This Bio Project characterizes the taxonomic structure and redox-stratified organization of bacterial communities inhabiting mangrove sediments along the Egyptian Red Sea coast, representing the northernmost margin of Indo-Pacific mangrove distribution.A new sample-stratification approach was implemented across the three sites, combining Oxford Nanopore full-length 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing with sediment physicochemical analysis.This study compares microbiomes from Oxic, anoxic, and Rhizosphere sediments at El Gouna, Safaga, and El Qoseir with nearby bulk-soil controls, aiming to characterize community structure and diversity, link those patterns to physicochemical gradients and anthropogenic influence, and establish a site- and compartment-level baseline for practical management.Observed diversity patterns reflect strong stratification driven by oxygen availability, root-mediated microgradients, and site-specific physicochemical conditions. Oxic layers harbor taxa adapted to oxidative carbon turnover and niche nitrification; anoxic horizons support consortia associated with sulfate reduction, fermentation, and reduced sulfur cycling; and rhizosphere communities exhibit enrichment in heterotrophic and chemolithotrophic groups responsive to root exudates, localized oxygen release, and steep redox transitions. Across sites, community dissimilarity corresponds to gradients in salinity, nutrient availability, and metal load, revealing ecotonal microbial assemblages characteristic of intermittently flooded hypersaline sediments.The dataset provides the first full-length 16S rRNA survey of bacterial communities across compartmentalized Egyptian Red Sea mangroves and establishes a reference point for long-term monitoring and restoration strategies. By combining long-read amplicon sequencing with detailed physicochemical metadata, this project offers a robust resource for examining microbial biogeography, redox-linked metabolic potential, and ecological resilience within a vulnerable coastal ecosystem undergoing increasing anthropogenic pressure.