17β-Estradiol (E2) is a widely present trace pollutant in aquatic environments. However, its impact on microbial communities in aerobic lake waters, which are crucial for methane (CH4) production, remains unclear. This study conducted an E2 contamination experiment by constructing laboratory-simulated aerobic microecosystems. Using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, the effects of E2 on bacterial and archaeal communities were systematically examined. Combined with gas chromatography, the patterns and mechanisms of E2’s impact on CH4 emissions in aerobic aquatic systems were uncovered for the first time. Generally, E2 contamination increased the randomness of bacterial and archaeal community assemblies and weakened microbial interactions. Furthermore, changes occurred in the composition and ecological functions of bacterial and archaeal communities under E2 pollution. Specifically, two days after exposure to E2, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in the low-concentration (L) and high-concentration (H) groups decreased by 6.99% and 4.01%, respectively, compared to the control group (C). Conversely, the relative abundance of Planctomycetota was 1.81% and 1.60% higher in the L and H groups, respectively. E2 contamination led to an increase in the relative abundance of the methanogenesis functional group and a decrease in that of the methanotrophy functional group. These changes led to an increase in CH4 emissions. This study comprehensively investigated the ecotoxicological effects of E2 pollution on microbial communities in aerobic water bodies and filled the knowledge gap regarding aerobic methane production under E2 contamination.
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