<![CDATA[Biofloc technology (BFT) relies on the management of microbial communities to improve water quality and recycle nutrients in aquaculture systems. This review summarizes findings from 16 studies that analyzed prokaryotic (bacterial) communities in biofloc systems using different carbon sources, categorized by structural complexity: (i) simple (glucose, molasses), (ii) mid-complex (starch), and (iii) complex (digested plant cellulose, wheat bran). Dominant phyla commonly found across all carbon categories include Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota/Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteriota, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, and Planctomycota/Planctomycetes. Unique phyla associated with simple carbon were Chlamydiae, Acidobacteriota, Dadabacteria, Patescibacteria, and Xanthomonadaceae, while Fusobacteria dan Gemmatimonadetes appeared only in systems using mid-complex and complex carbon sources. Chloroflexi appeared in all carbon categories but was more frequently mentioned in studies when systems using mid-complex and complex carbon sources. These results suggest differences in substrate utilization, respiratory pathways, and bacterial groups involved in degrading carbon of varying complexity. However, quantitative comparisons of bacterial communities could not be made due to variations in C:N ratios, carbon dosages, and cultured species among studies. A more standardized approach is needed to better understand how carbon complexity shapes the structure and function of microbial communities in biofloc systems.]]>
