施肥对杉木林土壤酶和活性有机碳的影响

以中亚热带地区的5年生杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)人工林为研究对象,探讨施肥对土壤酶活性和活性有机碳含量的影响,实验包括对照(CK)、施氮肥(200 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、施磷肥(50 kg P·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、施氮磷肥(200 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)和50 kg P·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))等4个处理。结果表明:在表层(0~10 cm)土壤中,施NP肥处理的土壤蔗糖酶和过氧化氢酶活性分别比CK降低了40.2%和36.5%,β-葡萄糖苷酶活性比施P肥处理降低了31.1%;亚表层(10~20 cm)土壤中,施N肥处理的脲酶活性显著低于CK;施N肥、P肥和NP肥处理的蔗糖酶活性分别比CK降低了46.9%、37.8%和42.4%;施NP肥处理的过氧化氢酶活性比施P肥处理降低了22.6%;在表层土壤中,施N肥、P肥处理的土壤水溶性有机碳含量分别比CK降低24.1%和29.4%;施NP肥处理的微生物生物量碳显著低于CK;土壤活性有机碳组分在不同土层之间差异显著,均表现为表层土壤活性有机碳含量高于亚表层土壤。相关性分析结果显示:蔗糖酶活性与硝态氮含量呈极显著负相关,表明施NP肥增加了硝态氮含量,一定程度上抑制了蔗糖酶的活性;水溶性有机碳与脲酶活性呈显著正相关,土壤微生物生物量碳与脲酶、过氧化氢酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶活性呈显著正相关。研究表明,水溶性有机碳、微生物生物量碳和土壤酶活性的降低可能会抑制土壤碳的释放,从而增加土壤碳的固定。     

不同海拔对福建戴云山黄山松林土壤微生物生物量和土壤酶活性的影响

温度、水分等多种环境因子随海拔梯度发生变化,会直接或间接影响土壤微生物生物量、群落结构以及土壤酶活性。然而关于中亚热带地区山地森林生态系统土壤酶活性变化响应的研究还是相对匮乏。戴云山山脉是中国最大的黄山松种质基因基地,本研究以中亚热带戴云山1300 m (L)、1450 m(M)、1600 m(H)的黄山松(Pinus taiwanensis)为研究对象,探究不同海拔下土壤微生物生物量和土壤酶活性如何变化及驱动土壤酶活性变化的主要的环境因子。结果表明:海拔梯度对淀积层(B)土壤的酶活性影响整体较小,在淋溶层(A)土壤中,随海拔升高,纤维素水解酶(β-葡糖苷酶(βG)、纤维素水解酶(CBH))显著降低,因此使土壤可溶性碳(DOC)和微生物生物量碳(MBC)随海拔升高有下降趋势。尽管酸性磷酸酶活性(ACP)随海拔升高显著增加,然而有效磷(AP)无显著变化。此外随海拔升高,微生物生物量氮(MBN)、微生物生物量磷(MBP)显著降低。冗余分析(RDA)结果发现,MBP和碳/氮比(C/N)是影响A层中土壤酶活性变化最重要的因子,而在B层中,土壤含水量(WC)和MBP对土壤酶活性起主要作用。研究表明,磷限制的亚热带地区,无机磷很容易被铁铝固定,MBP可以对土壤中的有效磷进行补充,成为影响本地区酶活性的主要因素。随海拔海拔降低,土壤有机碳、氮分解相关酶活性较高,从而加速了土壤碳、氮周转。因此,探究不同海拔梯度酶活性变化为预测中亚热带亚山地森林生态系统土壤碳、氮、磷养分循环提供了重要的理论依据,也为戴云山自然保护区黄山松林管理提供一定的科学依据。     

模拟大气氮沉降对温带森林土壤微生物群落结构的影响

本研究以温带森林土壤为研究对象,设置野外模拟氮沉降实验,分析不同施氮形态和施氮水平对微生物群落结构的影响。试验设置对照(Control,0 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、混合态低氮(NH_4NO_3,50 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、混合态高氮(NH_4NO_3,150 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、铵态氮低氮((NH_4)_2SO_4,50 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、铵态氮高氮((NH_4)_2SO_4,150 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、硝态氮低氮(NaNO_3,50 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、硝态氮高氮(NaNO_3,150 kg N·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))7种氮处理,持续施氮3年后,运用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)法对土壤微生物群落结构进行测定。结果表明:在不同水平的氮添加下,土壤微生物总量、细菌、土壤革兰阳性细菌(G+细菌)、土壤革兰阴性细菌(G-细菌)和真菌的PLFA含量均随施氮水平的增加而升高;在不同形态的氮添加下,混合态氮添加提高了微生物总量、细菌、真菌和放线菌的PLFA含量。主成分分析(PCA)表明,除铵态氮低氮添加样地外,其他氮添加处理样地中的土壤微生物结构都发生了改变。这些结果表明,模拟大气氮沉降初期,氮添加会增加温带森林土壤微生物生物量,达到一定水平后会改变土壤微生物群落结构。     

N添加对油松幼苗土壤酶活性和微生物生物量的影响

通过连续6年对盆栽油松(Pinus tabuliformis)幼苗进行不同水平N添加(0、2.8、5.6、11.2、22.4和44.8 g N·m~(-2)·a~(-1)),研究了N添加对土壤酶活性(蔗糖酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶)和微生物生物量碳、氮的影响。结果表明:N添加水平低于11.2 g N·m~(-2)·a~(-1)时,对油松幼苗土壤蔗糖酶和脲酶活性均有促进作用,但过量N添加,尤其超过22.4 g N·m~(-2)·a~(-1)时,蔗糖酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性均不再提高,甚至表现为抑制作用;N添加为5.6 g N·m~(-2)·a~(-1),微生物生物量碳显著增加,微生物生物量氮无显著变化,而当N添加达到11.2 g N·m~(-2)·a~(-1)时,微生物生物量氮呈显著增加的趋势;土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶活性与微生物生物量碳和微生物生物量氮间均有显著相关关系,而3种酶活性间、微生物生物量碳、氮间均无显著相关性;土壤酶活性和微生物生物量与地上生物量、土壤有机碳和全氮含量显著相关。油松在5.6~11.2 g N·m~(-2)·a~(-1)水平下生长达到最佳。目前黄土高原地区N沉降水平(2.06 g N·m~(-2)·a~(-1))有利于该地区油松林生长;可以通过适当增施N肥的方式提高油松生长。     

东北地区4种林分土壤呼吸及温、湿度敏感性对氮添加的短期响应

全球变化中氮沉降日益严重,已对森林生态系统的各个过程产生了重要影响。因此,通过研究氮添加对森林生态系统土壤碳输出的影响,对分析全球变化背景下土壤碳吸存具有重要意义。对黑龙江省帽儿山实验林场白桦(Betula platyphylla)次生林,以及水曲柳(Fraxinus mandschurica)、红松(Pinus koraiensis)、长白落叶松(Larix olgensis)人工林通过2年氮添加(对照(0 kg N hm~(-2) a~(-1)),低氮(50 kg N hm~(-2) a~(-1)),中氮(100 kg N hm~(-2) a~(-1))和高氮(150 kg N hm~(-2) a~(-1)))试验,测定根生物量密度、土壤微生物量碳浓度、土壤呼吸速率及温、湿度敏感性等指标,旨在探讨森林生态系统土壤呼吸对氮添加的短期响应。结果表明:(1)低氮处理对白桦和水曲柳林土壤呼吸速率影响不显著,但显著提高了红松和长白落叶松林土壤呼吸速率;水曲柳林分中高氮处理土壤呼吸速率显著降低于低氮和中氮处理,而其他林分高氮处理土壤呼吸速率仅显著低于低氮处理。(2)氮添加处理下,4种林分中林分土壤呼吸速率与根生物量密度呈极显著正相关,Pearson相关系数为0.81。(3)低氮处理下5 cm和10 cm处土壤呼吸温度敏感性系数Q_(10)值较CK处理分别提高了2.65%和3.12%,高氮处理较CK处理分别降低了6.29%和5.46%。但氮添加处理对土壤呼吸和土壤湿度间的相关性无影响。综上所述,阔叶林与针叶林土壤呼吸速率对氮添加的响应存在差异。根生物量密度是影响不同林分土壤呼吸对短期氮添加响应的主要因素,同时氮添加处理显著改变了土壤温度敏感性系数。     

模拟氮沉降对华西雨屏区天然常绿阔叶林凋落叶分解过程微生物生物量的影响

为进一步深化氮沉降对凋落物分解影响的研究,2016年3月—2017年3月,在华西雨屏区天然常绿阔叶林内,用凋落叶分解袋法研究了模拟氮沉降对凋落叶分解过程中微生物生物量碳(MBC)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)和微生物生物量磷(MBP)的影响。实验设置了对照(0 g N m~(-2)a~(-1))、低氮(5 g N m~(-2)a~(-1))、中氮(15 g Nm~(-2)a~(-1))和高氮沉降(30 g N m~(-2)a~(-1)) 4个处理。结果表明:低氮和中氮处理显著增加了凋落叶分解过程中的MBC和MBN,以低氮处理增加幅度最高;低氮和中氮处理对凋落叶分解过程中的MBP影响不显著;高氮处理显著降低了分解过程中的MBC、MBN和MBP。随模拟氮沉降量的递增,凋落叶分解过程中微生物生物量碳氮比逐渐减少,微生物生物量碳磷比呈现先增加后下降的趋势。研究结果说明,氮沉降影响了华西雨屏区天然常绿阔叶林凋落物分解过程中微生物生物量,进而改变了凋落物的分解过程。     

氮添加对南亚热带常绿阔叶林土壤微生物群落结构的影响

土壤微生物是生态系统元素循环的重要驱动者,但目前对我国南亚热带常绿阔叶林土壤微生物群落结构如何响应本区域迅速增加的氮(N)沉降的认识还比较薄弱。为此,在中国南亚热带鼎湖山自然保护区布设了一个野外模拟氮沉降实验,研究4种不同施氮水平(0(CK)、35(LN)、70(MN)、105(HN) kg~(-1)·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))下土壤微生物群落结构的响应及其影响因素。持续施氮3年后,分干、湿季(1、7月)采表层(0～10 cm)土壤样品,运用磷酯脂肪酸(PLFA)方法对土壤微生物群落结构进行了测定。结果发现:(1)施氮显著增加了微生物生物量。随施氮水平升高,主要微生物类群(细菌、放线菌、真菌)的生物量都增加,但细菌仍然是土壤微生物中的优势类群。(2)施氮对微生物的促进作用具有明显的季节差异。干季MN的促进作用最显著,而湿季HN下微生物生物量达到最大值。干季所有土壤微生物的生物量始终显著高于湿季。(3)施氮和季节均改变了土壤微生物的群落组成。干季土壤微生物的群落组成主要受可溶性有机碳和土壤含水量的影响,而湿季主要受pH和有效氮、磷含量的影响。以上结果表明,南亚热带地区氮添加增加会改变土壤微生物的群落组成,且施氮的影响具有明显的季节差异,进而可能影响这些微生物驱动的关键生态过程。因此,探究氮沉降对南亚热带常绿阔叶林的影响,需要综合考虑氮沉降水平、季节和微生物的响应等多种因素。     

模拟增温和氮沉降对中亚热带杉木幼林土壤有效氮的影响

以中亚热带杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)幼苗为研究对象,设置埋设电缆以加热土壤增温(+5℃)结合模拟氮沉降的实验,施氮水平分别为对照(CT,0 kg hm~(-2)a~(-1))、施低氮(LN,40 kg hm~(-2)a~(-1))和施高氮(HN,80 kg hm~(-2)a~(-1)),用离子交换树脂袋法研究了土壤有效氮对模拟增温和施氮的短期响应。经过为期1a的研究,结果表明:土壤有效氮主要集中在夏冬季,而且硝态氮是土壤有效氮的主要存在形态;增温显著增加土壤有效氮含量(P0.05),各月间的有效氮含量与气温和降雨量有关;总体来看,氮沉降显著增加土壤有效氮含量(P0.05),而且随氮沉降水平的升高而增加。低氮处理下,大多数月份的土壤有效氮含量显著增加,高氮处理下,各月的有效氮含量均显著高于对照处理;增温×氮沉降在各月间均显著增加土壤有效氮含量(P0.05),并随氮沉降水平的升高而增加。而且,两者的交互作用对有效氮的增幅显著大于任一单一因子的作用。说明增温和氮沉降两者的交互作用对土壤有效氮的影响具有叠加效应。因此,增温和氮沉降及其交互作用短期内都会显著增加土壤有效氮含量,为植物生长提供充足的养分。     

长白山天然次生林土壤微生物量对氮沉降的响应

土壤微生物作为土壤养分的生物驱动因素,氮沉降会改变其活性和生物量,从而打破土壤养分循环动态平衡。氮沉降对热带、亚热带森林以及温带原始林生态系统土壤微生物量影响的研究较多,但对温带天然次生林影响的研究鲜有报道。于2016年5月(春)、7月(夏)和9月(秋)分别对长白山模拟10年氮沉降的控制试验样地——白桦山杨次生林进行了野外调查。控制试验分为3个氮添加处理,对照(CK 0 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1))、低氮(LN 25 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1))和高氮(HN 50 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1)),按照土壤层(0—10 cm和10—20 cm)分别测试了不同处理的土壤微生物量碳(MBC)和氮(MBN)、土壤全碳(TC)、全氮(TN)和全磷(TP)、p H、土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC)和氮(DON)等指标。结果表明:1)土壤p H在氮沉降的作用下显著降低;上层土壤TC、TN在氮沉降下变化较小,下层土壤TC、TN的含量显著增加;氮沉降下春、夏两季土壤TP含量上升,LN处理在秋季对TP有抑制作用;氮沉降对DOC、DON的影响不显著。2)上层土壤MBC春季到秋季呈现递减的趋势,下层土壤呈现先升后降的趋势,HN对MBC有抑制作用,LN对下层土壤MBC有促进作用;土壤MBN由春季到秋季呈现递减的趋势,且上、下层土壤MBN差异显著;氮处理对春、秋两季MBN有促进作用,夏季有抑制作用;氮沉降使春、秋两季MBC/MBN降低,夏季土壤MBC/MBN升高。3)氮处理、季节变化和土层深度对MBC、MBN存在显著影响,其交互影响也显著。总之,长期氮沉降在生长季对土壤微生物量的影响具有季节性差异,且受到土层深度的影响。未来研究在重视年际变化的同时,也要注重时空动态对氮沉降作用表现出的差异性。     

玉米/大豆轮作下不同施肥处理对土壤微生物生物量及酶活性的影响

本试验探讨了玉米/大豆轮作下不同施肥措施对土壤酶活性以及微生物生物量的影响。试验设置7个处理:(1)对照(不施肥,CK);(2)有机肥7.5 t·hm~(-2)(M1);(3)有机肥15 t·hm~(-2)(M2);(4)有机肥22.5 t·hm~(-2)(M3);(5)化肥(N 160 kg·hm~(-2)+P_2O_575kg·hm~(-2)+K_2O 75 kg·hm~(-2))(T1);(6)有机肥7.5 t·hm~(-2)+化肥(N 81 kg·hm~(-2)+P_2O_50kg·hm~(-2)+K_2O 67 kg·hm~(-2))(T2);(7)有机肥15 t·hm~(-2)+化肥(N 120 kg·hm~(-2)+P_2O_57kg·hm~(-2)+和K_2O 71 kg·hm~(-2))(T3)。2017年有机肥与2016年施入相同,化肥施用量为2016年的80%。在不同生长时期采集0~20 cm的耕层土样,测定土壤微生物生物量碳、氮及土壤蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶和脲酶活性。两年的试验数据分析表明,不同处理间土壤微生物生物量碳、氮存在显著差异,各施肥处理均能显著增加土壤微生物生物量碳、氮。在玉米成熟期,T2、T3处理较M1、M2处理的微生物生物量碳分别增加32%和21%,微生物生物量氮分别增加38%和28%,大豆成熟期与玉米成熟期相比,微生物生物量碳增加了13%~51%,微生物生物量氮增加了85%~174%。土壤蔗糖酶活性在作物不同生育时期以T3处理的效果最为显著,过氧化氢酶、脲酶活性以有机无机肥料配施处理较为显著。相对于玉米田,大豆土壤微生物生物量碳、氮及酶活性均有不同程度的提高。各处理间土壤微生物生物量碳、氮及酶活性与土壤有机质、硝态氮、铵态氮、速效磷和速效钾水平显著相关。单施有机肥及有机无机肥配施可显著提高土壤养分、脲酶、蔗糖酶活性及土壤微生物生物量碳、氮,但过氧化氢酶活性与施肥量无显著相关性。     

Vermicomposting in the management of pig-waste in Hong Kong

The treatment and disposal of pig-waste in Hong Kong has received much attention in recent years but, following any of the presently used treatment processes, solids remain to be further stabilized. Vermicomposting is a waste stabilization technique which converts waste into potentially recyclable materials such as worm protein and worm casts. The earthworm, Pheretima asiatica, can stabilize most of the solids arising from the treatment of pig-waste, including raw pig manure, suggesting that vermicomposting has a high potential as a unit process in the management of pig-waste in Hong Kong.S.H. Wong is with the Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong; and D.A. Griffiths is with the Department of Botany, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.     

Removal of wastewater pathogen indicators in a constructed wetland in Leon, Spain

This paper studies the seasonal presence and removal of the pathogenous micro-organisms Escherichia coli, total coliforms (TC), Clostridium perfringens (Cp), faecal streptococci (FS), Giardia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts and helminth eggs, in a constructed wetland treatment system. The removal efficiency of this system with respect to the indicator micro-organisms achieved maximum values in spring and autumn at 99.9% for E. coli and TC, respectively, in winter at 97.0% for FS, in summer at 100% for Clostridium and throughout the year, also at 100%, in the case of Giardia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts and helminth eggs. In general, very low protozoan and helminth egg counts were found, and the system demonstrated efficient reduction of the wastewater indicator pathogens.     

Inbreeding in a french peasant population

Genealogical pedigrees were collected from 976 farming couples who lived in a canton of central France in the XIXth and XXth century. Several methods (genealogical, isonymic and probability of origin of genes) were used to appraise the evolution of the biological structure of this population, which has gone through two phases. The first phase from 1800 to the World War I, shows gene flows between the farming population of the canton and those of neighbouring rural districts which are linked to an increase in consanguineous marriages. The second phase, from 1920 onwards, shows important gene flow from distant areas. This trend implies a decrease in consanguineous marriages.     

Lactic acid bacteria in fermented foods in Thailand

Traditional fermented foods (fish, meat and vegetable products), produced by many different processes, are eaten in many parts of Thailand. Lactic acid bacteria are responsible for the souring and ripening of these foods. Homofermentative strains of Lactobacillus pentosus, L. plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus are dominant in foods with low salt concentrations whereas P. halophilus strains are present in foods containing high salt. Strains of Lactobacillus sake, other Lactobacillus spp., P. acidilactici and P. urinaeequi are frequently found. Heterofermentative strains of L. brevis, L. confusus, L. fermentum, L. vaccinostercus, other Lactobacillus spp., and of Leuconostoc spp. are distributed as minor bacteria and strains of Staphylococcus, Enterococcus and Halobacterium are occasionally isolated.S. Tanasupawat is with the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; K. Komagata is with the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Sakuragaoka 1-1-1, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156, Japan.     

New species and new combinations in Peruvian Orchidaceae

seventeen new species and combinations are proposed in the generaChondrorhyncha, Cischweinfia, Cochlioda, Eloyella, Encyclia, Kefersteinia, Koellensteinia, Macroclinium, Rodriguezia, Solenidiopsis, andStenia. All new species are illustrated. A key is provided for 2-flowered species ofMacroclinium, PeruvianSigmatostalix, and PeruvianStenia. Solenidium (Solenidiopsis) peruvianum Schltr. is lectotypified.     

Phylogenetic relationships in theCampanulales based onrbcL sequences

Phylogenetic relationships within the angiosperm orderCampanulales were investigated by comparative sequencing of the chloroplast generbcL. CompleterbcL sequences were obtained for ten species in six families within the order. These data were analyzed along with previously publishedrbcL sequences from other taxa (for a total of 117 species) within the subclassAsteridae and outgroups, producing 32 equally parsimonious trees. A subset consisting of 44 of these taxa was then chosen and more rigorous analyses performed, resulting in four equally parsimonious trees. Results indicate that two major clades roughly corresponding to traditionally circumscribedAsterales andCampanulales exist as sister taxa. In particular, therbcL trees indicate thatSphenoclea is not a member ofCampanulales orAsterales, thatPentaphragma is more closely allied toAsterales thanCampanulales, that theCyphiaceae are not monophyletic, thatCampanulaceae andLobeliaceae are not sister taxa, and thatStylidiaceae are correctly placed withinCampanulales.     

Mycoflora of Argentinian corn harvested in the main production area in 1990

Corn (Zea mays) is the main cereal produced in and exported from Argentina. The risk of contamination by mycotoxins is related to the mycoflora associated with the corn kernels. This paper reports on the identification of internal and external mycoflora of corn kernels harvested in the main production area in Argentina in 1990. A mycological survey was carried out on 178 corn samples, from five locations in that area and the isolation frequency and relative density of the prevalent fungal genera compared. GenusFusarium was the most prevalent component of the internal seedborne mycoflora in the five locations.Penicillium was prevalent in all locations, taking into account the frequency. However, this genus was predominant only in two locations, when the relative density was considered. The predominantFusarium wasF. moniliforme and the most frequently isolated species ofAlternaria, Aspergillus andPenicillium wereA. alternata, A. flavus andP. decumbens, respectively.Diplodia species were not isolated from any of the samples.     

Nectary structure and nectar characteristics in someBignoniaceae

The nectary structure and chemical nectar composition of 15 species belonging to 12 genera ofBignoniaceae are analyzed. All taxa bear a conspicuous nuptial nectary surrounding the ovary base. The secretory tissue is mostly supplied by phloem branches. The stomata are located in the middle and upper part of the nectary epidermis with an homogeneous distribution. The nuptial nectary is proportionally large in relation to the ovary (15–30%), disregarding the nectary volume. Most species have extranuptial nectaries in both inner and outer surfaces of the calyx. Both kinds of nectaries lack a vascular tissue that straightly supplies them. Nuptial nectar concentration (wt/wt) ranges from 19 to 68%. Sugars and amino acids are found in all species. Half of the species have hexose predominant nectars, the remaining sucrose predominant. Phenols are detected in only three species, whereas reducing acids exclusively inTecoma stans. Alkaloids and lipids were never detected. Extranuptial nectar chemical composition is analyzed in two species:Dolichandra cynanchoides andPodranea ricasoliana. Bees constitute the main flower visitors of the species studied whereas hummingbirds were seen visiting three species. A correlation analysis is performed with the data obtained. There are a few significant correlations which indicate a parallel increase of three parameters: the longer the flower length, the more voluminous the nectary and the higher stomata number, independently of the floral biotype. Phenograms are obtained using 24 floral characters including nectary and nectar data. The clusters obtained do not reflect taxonomic relationships but are useful in the understanding of animal-plant interactions when the flower biotype is considered.This paper is based on a chapter of a doctoral thesis presented at the University of Córdoba (Argentina).     

Synthetic oligonucleotide probes for detection of mercury-resistance genes in environmental freshwater microbial communities in response to pollutants

Mercury-resistance genes were detected byin situ hybridization using new synthetic oligonucleotide probes specific formerA andmerB genes according to the published sequences of the corresponding enzymes. These DNA probes were used for the detection of specific mercury-resistant microorganisms isolated from the Rhine River which had been polluted 3 years previously in 1986. Mercuric reductase and organomercurial lyase genes persist in the bacterial genome even after the disappearance of the pollutant but are absent in axenic amoebae. A total of 49 bacterial isolates showed DNA homologies with the³²P-labelled DNA probes and 15 free-living amoebae were selected due to their harboured symbiotic mercury-resistant bacteria.