Changes in soil respiration across tidal flat types before and after Spartina alterniflora eradication in Luoyuan Bay, China

• Study the changes in soil respiration on different tidal flats before and after the eradication of Spartina alterniflora . • Potential impact of mangrove planting on global carbon emissions. • The response of soil microbial diversity to Spartina alterniflora invasion and mangrove planting. Tidal flats not only effectively absorb and store large amounts of carbon but they also serve as habitats for numerous microorganisms, boasting rich biodiversity. This study compared the diurnal and monthly variations in soil respiration among different types of tidal flats and found temperature to be a crucial factor influencing soil respiration. Additionally, it examined soil respiration in different tidal flats before and after mangrove planting. The study revealed that replacing Spartina alterniflora with mangroves after its eradication could reduce approximately 5.96 × 10 8 g of CO 2 emissions annually in Luoyuan Bay. Furthermore, both mangrove planting and S. alterniflora invasion increased the richness of soil microbial communities but decreased their diversity. Given that the mangroves in Luoyuan Bay are still in the seedling stage, with underdeveloped root systems and limited secretion of root exudates and organic matter, it is hypothesized that the microbial communities in the rhizosphere soil are relatively simple, with fewer species and lower abundance. Therefore, in the context of global climate change, studying soil respiration in tidal flats can enhance our understanding of their contribution to atmospheric carbon, aiding in the development of measures to control carbon emissions and mitigate global climate change.