Impacto de la melaza y el silicato sobre bacterias del género Bacillus y Vibrio en sedimentos acuícolas: Un análisis metagenómico comparativo

The management of microbial communities in aquaculture systems is essential for maintaining environmental health and promoting sustainable production. Bacillus bacteria exhibit beneficial properties, while Vibrio includes pathogenic species that negatively affect crop health. This study evaluated the effect of molasses and silicate on the bacterial composition of sediment, focusing on the relative abundance of both genera. Sediments were collected from three sites in Puerto Hualtaco, Ecuador (shrimp farm gate, virgin mangrove, and dock) and treated with molasses (84 mg/L), silicate (34 mg/L), and a control without inputs. Bacterial communities were analyzed using metagenomic sequencing. Results showed that Bacillus was more abundant in the mangrove and dock controls; but decreased across treatments; only at the shrimp farm gate was a slight increase observed. In contrast, Vibrio increased across all treatments, suggesting that these inputs promote its proliferation. Changes were also detected in other bacterial genera, reflecting the influence of nutrients on microbiota. This study provides evidence of the impact of certain inputs on the microbial structure of the sediment, highlighting the need for strategies that promote beneficial bacteria in aquaculture