Sediment Microbial Communities and Their Potential Role as Environmental Pollution Indicators in Xuande Atoll, South China Sea.

In this study, 39 sediment samples were collected from Qilian Island, Iltis Bank, and Yongxing Island in Xuande Atoll in the South China Sea (SCS), and the microbial community structures and distribution were analyzed. The microbial community was influenced by both natural environmental factors and human activities. The abundance of genera and , which are associated with pathogenicity and pollutant degradation, were significantly higher in Qilian Island than in Yongxing Island and Iltis Bank, suggesting possible contamination of Qilian Island area through human activities.