Abstract

The microbiome-energy nexus. Stability of aquatic environments and the productivity of world fisheries are fundamentally regulated by the relationship between microbial metabolic activities and the performance of microbial-derived energy through trophic interactions, the Microbiome-Energy Nexus. The nexus is becoming more and more disrupted by anthropogenic stressors (such as heavy metals, microplastics, and nutrient runoff) and results in the formation of so-called energy roadblocks, which reduce harvestable fish biomass and ecosystem resilience. In this paper, the direct influence of the alteration of microbial community composition on Trophic Transfer Efficiency (TTE) and carbon cycling is discussed. By combining the metagenomic data with ecological modeling, to show that, due to pollution, the energy flow of the microbial loop moves away and then goes through viral shunts and pathobiont proliferation, which effectively drains the food web. The results refer to particular taxa of microbes as high-resolution sentinel species, which give a warning signal of fishery degradation prior to common symptoms. Also, consider microbiome-based mitigation approaches, including targeted bioaugmentation and nature-based filtration systems, as the necessary tools in terms of sustainable fisheries management. The microbial health indices that are integrated with the current regulatory mechanisms, including Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY), allow the managers to shift to proactive conservation. The paper concludes that understanding the nexus between the microbiome and the energy is not only a biological need but also a strategic one to make the world food-safe and overcome the long-term effects of water pollution.