Soil Microbial and Enzyme Activities Response to Pollution Near an Aluminium Smelter

The aim of this research was to assess the impact caused by a long‐term pollution by fluoride and heavy metals in two soils (PS1 and PS2) near an aluminium smelter in Slovakia, on soil microbial biomass C (MBC), basal respiration, metabolic quotient (qCO₂) water‐soluble organic C (WSOC) and enzymes activities involved in the C, N and P biogeochemical cycles. An unpolluted soil was used as control (C0). Results obtained for soil fluoride content reflected a gradient of fluoride exposure in topsoils of contaminated sites. Decreases in microbial and enzymatic activities and in MBC to organic C ratio were found in PS2 site, which is closer to the smelter and exhibited the highest fluoride content. PS1‐soil showed an extreme alkaline pH caused by leaching of waste effluents from the smelter dumping site, higher contents of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd, significantly larger MBC, qCO₂ and catalase and urease activities, and much larger basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity than PS2 and C0‐soil. Phosphatase, β‐glucosidase and BAA‐protease were negatively correlated with WSOC, basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity, and showed some degree of inhibition in polluted sites. These results may indicate different responses of microbial communities to ecosystem disturbances, caused by the drastic changes in soil's physicochemical properties as result of the long‐term emissions of fly ash with high levels of contaminants that are still affecting soil microbial and enzymatic activities.     

湿地中碱性磷酸酶的动力学特征与水生植物的关系

本文讨论了种植菹草 (PotamogetoncrispusL .)、水花生 (AlternanthearphiloxeroidesGriseb .)、紫背浮萍 (Spirodelapolyrhiza(L .)Schleid .)以及对照实验池 (12 .5m× 9.5m)过滤 (小于0 4 5 μm)与未过滤水样和沉积物中碱性磷酸酶的动力学特征及其分布 .水生植被能降低水样和表层沉积物酶的催化效率 ,抑制作用因植物的种类而异 ,且在未过滤水中表现得尤为突出 .因此 ,受抑制者多与较大的颗粒相联系 ,这一结果暗示植物克藻效应的胞外酶学机制 .水生植物种植区表层沉积物的低酶活性是其中有机磷不易矿化故得以保持从而改善水质的可能原因 ,而深层沉积物酶的反应速度则明显高于对照 .湿地亚表层沉积物因其具有的理论与实际意义而值得深入研究     

Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Microbial Biomass and Community Functional Diversity in Temperate Grassland in Inner Mongolia,China

Nitrogen (N) fertilization may profoundly affect soil microbial communities. In this study, a field fertilization experiment was conducted in temperate grassland in Inner Mongolia, China to examine the effect of N fertilization on soil microbial properties and the main factors related to the characteristics of soil microbial community. Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial functional diversity along an N gradient were measured over three months (June to August). The result showed that N fertilization significantly decreased MBC under high N treatment (N200, 200 kg N ha^?1 y^?1) compared with the control (N0, 0 kg N ha^?1 y^?1) in the three months. Microbial functional diversity in July and August were significantly increased by low N treatment (N50, 50 kg N ha^?1 y^?1). Among the three fertilization treatments, microbial functional diversity under N200 in the three months was significantly lower than that of N50. The decrease of MBC and functional diversity under N200 were mainly due to the significant decline of plant belowground biomass under high N treatment. The increase of functional diversity under N50 treatment was due to the higher plant aboveground biomass as a result of the higher soil moisture availability. This finding highlighted that the higher N fertilization (N200) was not suitable for the growth and improvement of functional diversity of the soil microbial community, and that site and plant community play an important role in regulating the characteristics of soil microbial community.     

Effects of Salinity and Mangrove Detritus on Desorption of Metals from Brackish Water Desorption of Metals from Brackish Water and Shrimp

Desorption and bioaccumulation of Cd, Zn, and Pb were studied using naturally contaminated sediment from a brackish water pond in the Sunderban Biosphere Reserve in India. Pattern of desorption of the metals from the sediment and bioaccumulation in fingerlings of the teleost Oreochromis mossambicusand postlarvae of the shrimp Penaeus monodon were studied as a function of salinity and loading of detritus of a mangrove plant. Effects of both salinity and loading of detritus on bioaccumulation of the metals were studied under two conditions: either the animals were allowed free access to the sediment or access was denied. Ninety‐six hour experiments showed that desorption of Cd and Pb from sediment into water increased with salinity of the medium while desorption of Zn decreased. Salinity of the medium also had a significant effect on the bioaccumulation of metals by fish; Cd and Pb accumulation decreased in saline medium while the accumulation of Zn increased. Conditions of access to sediment had no effect on the bioaccumulation of metals by fish; effect of interaction between salinity and access condition was also insignificant. The access conditions, however, significantly influenced accumulation of metal by the shrimp postlarvae. The effect of interaction between salinity and access condition was insignificant in influencing the bioaccumulation of all metals except Zn. The accumulation of Zn increased as a function of the salinity of the medium when shrimp postlarvae were allowed access to the sediment. Desorption of metals from sediment to water were below detection limits when detritus of a mangrove plant was added to the medium. Both the level of detritus and the conditions of access influenced accumulation of metals by fish, but the effect of interaction between the two factors were found to be insignificant. Shrimp postlarvae showed net accumulation only of Pb in the presence of detritus and the accumulation of Pb increased when the larvae were separated from the sediment. The results are important in understanding the mobility of metals between solid and aqueous phases in brackish water environments that experience periodic fluctuations in salinity and fluxes of organic load in the form of mangrove detritus.     

Concentration of 7 Heavy Metals in Sediments and Mangrove Root Samples from Mai Po, Hong Kong

Concentration of 7 heavy metals, Zn, Fe, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb and Ni in mudflat sediments, mangrove root sediments and root tissues of Acanthus ilicifolius, Aegicerus corniculatum and Kandelia candel from the Mai Po Nature Reserve, Northwest Hong Kong, were measured. Metal concentrations in the upper 0–10 cm of the sediment cores from the mudflat were 4–25% higher than those found in the bottom 21–30 cm. Relative Topsoil Enrichment Index approximated 1.0 for all the metals. Mudflat sediment concentrations of Fe, Ni, Cr, Cd and Cu were greater than those found in the mangrove sediments. Except for Fe, concentrations of the other 6 heavy metals were more elevated in the mangrove root sediments than in the corresponding root samples. Higher concentration factors for Zn, Fe and Cu may indicate bioaccumulation. Mean metal concentrations in both mudflat and mangrove sediments decreased in the order Fe > Zn > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cr > Cd. Mangrove root tissues also showed the same pattern except that Pb > Cu > Ni     

抚仙湖不同污染来源沉积物微生物解磷能力分析

以云南抚仙湖为研究对象,分析了不同污染来源沉积物微生物量、碱性磷酸酶活性(APA)和微生物解磷能力的垂向分布特征和水平分布特征.结果表明,抚仙湖各采样点沉积物微生物生物量与APA垂向分布趋势相似,总体上随着深度增加逐渐降低,微生物作用主要表现在表层.在空间分布上,富营养化星云湖以泄水为主的南岸隔河口微生物生物量和APA最高,其次为以农业面源污染为主的北岸梁王河口和以磷矿开发为污染来源的北岸东大河口,再次为受人类活动影响较小、以自生有机污染为主的湖心和东岸老凹嘴,以自然水土流失为主的西岸尖山河口微生物生物量和APA最低.沉积物微生物生物量和APA体现了不同外源污染对抚仙湖各湖区的影响不同.抚仙湖沉积物微生物对有机磷和无机磷均有解磷能力,并且无机磷解磷能力大于有机磷.沉积物解无机磷细菌数量和APA决定了抚仙湖沉积物磷释放强度,造成了抚仙湖较高强度的内源磷污染负荷.     

Biosorption of Heavy Metals in Leachate Derived from Gold Mine Tailings Using Aspergillus fumigatus

Leachate derived from bioleaching process contains high amount of metals that must be removed before discharging the water. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from a gold mine tailings and its ability to remove of As, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn from aqueous solutions and leachate of bioleaching processes was assessed. Batch sorption experiments were carried out to characterize the capability of fungal biomass (FB) and iron coated fungal biomass (ICFB) to remove metal ions in single and multi‐solute systems. The maximum sorption capacity of FB for As(III), As(V), Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn were 11.2, 8.57, 94.33, 53.47, 43.66, and 70.4 mg/g, respectively, at pH 6. For ICFB, these values were 88.5, 81.3, 98.03, 66.2, 50.25, and 74.07 mg/g. Results showed that only ICFB was found to be more effective in removing metal ions from the leachate. The amount of adsorbed metals from the leachate was 2.88, 21.20, 1.91, 0.1, and 0.08 mg/g for As, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Pb, respectively. The FT‐IR analysis showed involvement of the functional groups of the FB in the metal ions sorption. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that surface morphological changed following metal ions adsorption. The study showed that the indigenous fungus A. fumigatus was able to remove As, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn from the leachate of gold mine tailings and therefore the potential for removing metal ions from metal‐bearing leachate.     

Effect of Bioremediation on the Microbial Community in Oiled Mangrove Sediments

Bioremediation was conducted in the field on a mature Rhizophora stylosa mangrove stand on land to be reclaimed near Fisherman’s Landing Wharf, Gladstone Australia. Gippsland crude oil was added to six large plots (>40 m²) and three plots were left untreated as controls. Bioremediation was used to treat three oiled plots and the remaining three were maintained as oiled only plots. The bioremediation strategy consisted of actively aerating the sediment and adding a slow-release fertilizer in order to promote oil biodegradation by indigenous micro-organisms. Oil addition stimulated the numbers of alkane-degrading bacteria slightly to levels of 10⁴–10⁵/g sediment. Bioremediation of the oiled sediment had a marked effect on the alkane-degrading population, increasing the population size by three orders of magnitude from 10⁵ to 10⁸ cells/g of sediment. An effect of bioremediation on the growth of aromatic-degraders was detected with numbers of aromatic-degraders increasing from 10⁴ to 10⁶ cells/g of sediment. Active aeration and nutrient addition significantly stimulated the growth of hydrocarbon-degraders in oiled mangrove sediment in the field.     

Accumulation of Heavy Metals by Chickpea Grown in Fly Ash Treated Soil: Effect on Antioxidants

Chickpea grown in fly ash (FA) treated soil (25, 50, and 100% FA) was used to evaluate the effect of FA on antioxidants, metal concentration (Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Cd), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a (chl‐a), chlorophyll b (chl‐b), total chlorophyll (total chl), and carotenoids), growth and yield performance. All antioxidants in roots, shoots and leaves of chickpea increase with increasing FA doses to combat FA stress. The activities of antioxidants were more in the root tissues to cope with stress induced in the plants as compared to shoot and leaf. Concentration of metals was found maximum in roots than the shoots and seeds. The highest concentration of Fe and lowest level of Cd were recorded in all treatments of FA for different parts of the plant. The treated crop showed reduced level of chlorophyll but enhanced level of carotenoids and protein. However, root length, number of nodules and biomass in 25 and 50% FA treatments did not differ significantly in comparison to respective control plants. These results suggest that heavy metals of FA causes oxidative stress in this crop and the antioxidant enzymes could help a pivotal role against oxidative injury.     

Effect of Visitor Activities on Surface Soil Environmental Conditions and Aboveground Herbaceous Biomass in Ayder Natural Park

The effects of visitor activities on surface soil environmental conditions and aboveground herbaceous biomass in Ayder Natural Park, Turkey, were investigated. Soil properties and aboveground herbaceous biomass were identified and characterized as heavily trafficked site (HTS), moderately trafficked sites (MTS) and control (non‐trafficked site) in grassland in a forest gap. Some soil properties were measured on 60 pits at 0–5 and 5–10 cm soil depths. The intensity of visitor activities had a negative impact on both surface soil properties and the aboveground herbaceous plant biomass and root mass in the study area in Ayder. The soil bulk density and soil penetration resistance increased from 0.94 to 1.47 g cm^–3 and 0.55 to 1.65 MPa, respectively, saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased from 77.98 to 8.85 mm h^–1, and soil organic matter decreased from 6.71 to 1.77% in moderately and heavily trafficked sites, respectively, at 0–5 cm soil depth. The soil properties were degraded at both the surface layer and the subsurface layer and the greatest degradation was measured in the heavily trafficked site followed by the moderately trafficked site. There was a strong negative linear relationship between soil degradation and aboveground herbaceous plant biomass, which decreased by 50.05 and 78.19% in moderately and heavily trafficked sites, respectively.     

Movement of Heavy Metals in Soil through Preferential Flow Paths under Different Rainfall Intensities

Preferential flow in soils deserves attention due to its potential role in accelerating the movement of contaminants to groundwater. This study investigates the movement of Cd, Cu, and Pb through preferential flow paths under different applied rainfall intensities. Artificial acid rain (pH of 4.1) containing CdCl₂, CuCl₂, and Pb(NO₃)₂ was applied to undisturbed soil and repacked sand columns at low and high intensities, and leachate metals and chloride concentrations were measured. Cd was found in the leachate at both low and high rates in all columns, while the increase in Cu concentrations in the leachate was detected only at the high rate of the undisturbed columns. Pb was retained in both columns. For undisturbed columns, the breakthrough curves of Cd and Cu were similar to those of Cl, showing early initial breakthrough by preferential flow and dependency on rainfall intensities. The Cd concentrations were detected in the leachate from repacked columns for high rate rainfall, implying that even homogeneous soil may not be perfectly able to retain metals and the initially wet condition is more harmful for subsurface contaminant transport. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that, despite its highly sorptive nature, the transport of some metals may be as fast as that of a tracer under preferential flow conditions, and the rainfall intensity is a significant factor for the degree of transport.     

温度对铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)和鱼腥藻(Anabaena sp.)生长及胞外有机物产生的影响

以巢湖优势种铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)和鱼腥藻(Anabaena sp.)为研究对象,研究不同温度(35、25和10℃)对这两种藻生长特性和胞外有机物产生的影响.结果表明,温度对铜绿微囊藻和鱼腥藻的藻细胞密度、碱性磷酸酶活性和胞外有机物浓度影响显著.25℃是铜绿微囊藻和鱼腥藻最适宜的生长温度,最高细胞密度分别达到3.12×107cells/ml和2.03×107 cells/ml.不同温度下两种藻的碱性磷酸酶活性特征,证实了高温对鱼腥藻生长的抑制和低温对铜绿微囊藻生长的抑制.胞外有机物释放总量受蓝藻生物量和单位细胞有机物释放速率的影响.铜绿微囊藻的溶解性有机碳和胞外总多糖释放量在25℃最高,最大值分别为49.28和38.46 mg/L;而鱼腥藻在35℃时释放量最高,最大值分别为45.82和40.60 mg/L;10℃条件抑制了两种藻的生长及胞外有机物的释放.鱼腥藻胞外多糖含量在35℃培养条件下最高,而铜绿微囊藻在10℃条件下最高,说明不利的生长条件会促进蓝藻胞外多糖的分泌.三维荧光图谱分析结果表明,铜绿微囊藻和鱼腥藻胞外有机物以类蛋白质和类腐殖酸为主,温度主要影响藻细胞胞外有机物浓度,而对有机物种类组成没有影响.