Ecology-types determine physicochemical properties and microbial communities of sediments obtained along the Songhua River

•Riverine sediments group by ecology-types, but not by geographical location.•Longitude, latitude and elevation correlate with microbial community composition.•Ecology types significantly affect microbial communities in the sediment.

Sediments and their associated microbial communities are a vital part of riverine ecosystems. In order to understand the effects of ecology-types on microbial communities in the riverine sediments, the sediments and water samples were collected from several ecology-types along the Songhua River, and characterized in several ways. We analyzed the microbial communities in the sediments using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Furthermore, we determined environmental parameters, such as organic matter, nutrients (total N and P) and particle size distribution. The results revealed that the sediments are grouped by ecology-types along the river, but not by their geographical location. Longitude, latitude and elevation were also partially correlated with microbial community composition. This study suggests that sites of similar ecology-types affect the microbial communities in a similar manner, and result in increased heterogeneity in ecological landscapes.