ABSTRACT. The microbial diversity of the Yellow River Delta remains insufficiently characterized. This study investigated depth-dependent changes in overall microbial communities and examined their distribution in relation to the soil's biogeochemical properties during the spring season. The Yellow River, which provides freshwater and resources to over 140 million people⁹, terminates in northeastern China where it flows into the Bohai Gulf, forming the Yellow River Delta. As a habitat for numerous plant and bird species, this continually expanding wetland holds significant scientific and ecological value¹⁷. Microbial analyses were conducted on field-moist sub-samples, while physicochemical analyses were performed on air-dried sub-samples. A significant polynomial relationship was observed between soluble salt content and both the total microbial abundance and the fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis rate, which reflects the activity of culturally viable microbes. Bacteria were identified as the dominant microbial group across all sampled areas and depths.

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Keywords: Microbial Diversity, Yellow River Delta, Wetland, Soil Health.