Effects of mercury on microbial biomass and enzyme activities in soil

Mercury (Hg) is a persistent soil pollutant that affects soil microbial activity. We monitored the changes in soil microbial biomass and activity of enzymes, including alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolytic activity, and o-diphenol oxidase (o-DPO) in three soils contaminated with different concentrations of Hg. Increasing levels of Hg, from 0.5 to 10 μmol/g of dried soil, generally depressed microbial activity; however, the effects of Hg on soil microbial activity depended on soil type and composition, particularly organic matter content. o-DPO was less affected by Hg than the other three enzymes tested. Our results indicate that the analysis of microbial biomass content and soil-enzyme activities may be used to predict the soil quality contaminated with Hg.     

Effects of heavy metal contamination of soils on micronucleus induction in Tradescantia and on microbial enzyme activities: a comparative investigation

The aim of this study was to investigate correlation between genotoxic effects and changes of microbial parameters caused by metal contamination in soils. In total, 20 soils from nine locations were examined; metal contents and physicochemical soil parameters were measured with standard methods. In general, a pronounced induction of the frequency of micronuclei (MN) in the Tradescantia micronucleus (Trad-MN) assay was seen with increasing metal concentration in soils from identical locations. However, no correlations were found between metal contents and genotoxicity of soils from different locations. These discrepancies are probably due to differences of the physicochemical characteristics of the samples. Also, the microbial parameters depended on the metal content in soils from identical sampling locations. Inconsistent responses of the individual enzymes were seen in soils from different locations, indicating that it is not possible to define a specific marker enzyme for metal contamination. The most sensitive microbial parameters were dehydrogenase and arylsulfatase activity, biomass C, and biomass N. Statistical analyses showed an overall correlation between genotoxicity in Tradescantia on the one hand and dehydrogenase activity, biomass C, and the metabolic quotient on the other hand. In conclusion, the results of the present study show that the Trad-MN assay is suitable for the detection of genotoxic effects of metal contamination in soils and furthermore, that the DNA-damaging potential of soils from different origin cannot be predicted on the basis of chemical analyses of their metal concentrations.     

Effects of Cd or/and Pb on soil enzyme activities and microbial community structure

Heavy metals could have long-term hazardous impacts on the health of soil ecosystems and adverse influences on soil biological processes. A study of Cd or/and Pb effects on soil enzyme activities and microbial community structure was undertaken with brown soil in a greenhouse for a period of 10 weeks. The experiment results showed that urease, acid phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in Cd or/and Pb treatments than in control. Three enzyme activities decreased with the increasing metal concentrations. The effects of Cd and Pb combined on enzyme activities were higher than Cd or Pb alone. The soil microbial populations were far lower in heavy metal treatments than in control, and soil microbial populations under different heavy metals levels showed a significant difference (p < 0.05). The PCR-DGGE banding patterns confirmed that the addition of metals had a significant impact on microbial community structure.     

Microbial communities in different soil types do not converge after diesel contamination

AIMS: To study the comparative effect of diesel addition and simulated bioremediation on the microbial community in three different soil types.METHODS AND RESULTS: Three different soils were amended with diesel and bioremediation treatment simulated by addition of nutrients. The progress of bioremediation, and the effect on the indigenous microbial communities, was monitored using microbiological techniques. These included basal respiration, sole carbon source utilization patterns using both a commercially-available substrate set and a set designed to highlight changes in hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria, and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiling. The development of active hydrocarbon-degrading communities was indicated by the disappearance of diesel, increases in soil respiration and biomass, and large changes in the sole carbon source utilization patterns and PLFA profiles compared with control soils. However, comparison of the relative community structure of the three soils using PLFA profiling showed that there was no tendency for the community structure of the three different soil types to converge as a result of contamination. In fact, they became more dissimilar as a result. Changes in the sole carbon source utilization patterns using the commercially-available set of carbon sources indicated the same result as shown by PLFA profiling. The specially selected set of carbon sources yielded no additional information compared with the commercially-available set.CONCLUSIONS: Diesel contamination does not result in the development of similar community profiles in different soil types.SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The results suggest that different soils have different inherent microbial potential to degrade hydrocarbons, a finding that should be taken into account in impact and risk assessments. Following the development of the microbial community and its recovery is a useful and sensitive way of monitoring the impact and recovery of oil-contaminated soils.     

Effect of biocontrol strains of Trichoderma on plant growth, Pythium ultimum polulations, soil microbial communities and soil enzyme activities

Five strains of Trichoderma with known biocontrol activities were assessed for their effect upon pea growth and their antagonistic activity against large Pythium ultimum inocula. The effect of Trichoderma inocula upon the indigenous soil microflora and soil enzyme activities in the presence and absence of Pythium is assessed. In the absence of Pythium, Trichoderma strain N47 significantly increased the wet shoot weight by 15% but did not significantly affect the dry weight, whilst strains T4 and N47 significantly increased the root weights by 22% and 80%) respectively. Strains TH1 and N47 resulted in significantly greater root lengths. Pythium inoculation significantly reduced the root length and the number of lateral roots and nodules, and significantly increased the root and rhizosphere soil fungal populations. Pythium inoculation significantly reduced the plant wet and dry shoot weights and significantly increased the wet and the dry shoot/root ratio. All the Trichoderma strains reduced the number of lesions caused by Pythium and increased the number of lateral roots. The effect of the Pythium on emergence and shoot growth was significantly reduced by all the Trichoderma strains except strain To10. Inoculation with Trichoderma strains TH1 and T4 resulted in significantly greater wet root weights (62% and 57%, respectively) in the presence of Pythium compared to the Pythium control. Strain N47 significantly increased the shoot/root ratio compared to the Pythium control. Inoculation with Trichoderma strains T4, T12 and N47 significantly reduced Pythium populations. Pythium increased the activity of C, N and P cycle enzymes, whilst four Trichoderma strains reduced this effect, indicating reduced plant damage and C leakage. Overall, strains T4 and N47 had the greatest beneficial characteristics, as both these strains improved plant growth in the absence of Pythium and reduced plant damage in the presence of Pythium. The dual properties of these strains improve the commercial application, giving them an advantage over single action inocula, especially in the absence of plant pathogens.     

森林类型对土壤有机质、微生物生物量及酶活性的影响

以澳大利亚南昆士兰州典型森林类型——湿地松、南洋杉和贝壳杉林为对象,开展土壤可溶性有机碳和氮(SOC和SON)、微生物生物量碳和氮(MBC和MBN),以及土壤酶活性的研究,剖析森林类型对土壤质量的影响.结果表明:不同林型土壤SOC、SON含量分别在552 ～1154 mg·kg-1和20.11～57.32mg·kg-1;MBC、MBN分别在42～149 mg·kg-1和7～35 mg·kg-1.MBC、MBN之间呈显著相关.土壤几丁质酶、酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶的活性分别为2.96 ～7.63、16.5 ～29.6、0.79 ～ 3.42和3.71 ～9.93 μg ·g-1·h-1,亮氨酸氨肽酶活性为0.18～0.46 μg·g-1·d-1.不同林型土壤SOC含量,以及土壤几丁质酶和亮氨酸氨肽酶活性为湿地松林、南洋杉林、贝壳杉林依次降低;而SON含量为南洋杉林＞贝壳杉林＞湿地松林,且南洋杉林的SON含量显著(P＜0.05)高于湿地松林;MBC和MBN以及碱性磷酸酶活性为贝壳杉林＞湿地松林＞南洋杉林;酸性磷酸酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶活性为湿地松林＞贝壳杉林＞南洋杉林.在土壤生物代谢因子中,MBC、MBN、SON和亮氨酸氨肽酶对不同森林类型土壤影响较大.     

Effects of paraquat on selected microbial activities in soil

Paraquat, applied as Gramoxone, to a nonamended sandy loam soil at five times the suggested field application rate (10 lb/A 115g/cm²) increased the numbers of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi during a 14-day incubation at 25°C. This increase was attributed to the use of compounds in the Gramoxone formulation rather than the use of paraquat. Treatment at one and five times the normal rate reduced CO₂ evolution by 44% and 67%, respectively, in soil amended with 2% glucose during a 12-day incubation. Similar treatments reduced CO₂ evolution in 1% straw-amended soil by 39% and 58%, respectively, during a 28-day incubation. Cellulose decomposition of cotton duck containing 13 and 176g of paraquat per milligram of material was inhibited for 15 and 28 days, respectively, in soil containing a large population of cellulolytic microorganisms. A concentration of 5000g/gm of paraquat was necessary to inhibit nitrification in soil by 44% druing a 28-day incubation at 20°C. Paraquat inhibited C₂H₂ reduction in artificial aggregates of soil amended with 2% glucose and incubated anaerobically at 25°C. Nitrogenase activity in aggregates was inhibited by 43% and 52% at concentrations of 580 and 720g/gm of paraquat respectively. The inhibitory effects of the herbicide were reduced when soil was amended with organic matter in the form of peat or straw. The availability of paraquat controlled the toxicity of the herbicide to soil microorganisms.     

小麦-不同施肥方式对黑土微生物数量和酶活性的影响

采用温室盆栽的方法,探讨了不同化肥和小麦根系活动对土壤微生物和土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明:不种小麦条件下,施氮磷钾处理显著增加了土壤真菌数量,增幅为47.0%;不同肥料均显著增加了土壤脲酶活性和土壤磷酸酶活性,增幅为17.2%～32.7%和21.2%～25.9%。种植小麦条件下,根系活动极显著促进了土壤微生物数量、土壤脲酶和土壤磷酸酶活性的增加,增幅分别为39.0%、302%和38.5%;根系活动与肥料耦合增加土壤微生物数量,增幅为3.3%～31.4%。小麦和肥料耦合显著增加土壤脲酶和磷酸酶活性,增幅为59.0%～168%和15.2%～26.7%。磷酸酶活性、细菌数量、真菌数量与小麦根生物量、地上生物量呈显著正相关。     

湖南会同地区森林植被转变对土壤微生物生物量碳和酶活性的影响

研究了湖南省会同县森林植被从地带性植被天然常绿阔叶林到杉木人工林再到杉木火力楠混交林的转变过程中土壤微生物生物量碳和酶活性的变化趋势。结果表明:杉木纯林和混交林土壤微生物生物量碳含量均显著低于常绿阔叶林,分别仅为常绿阔叶林的76.8%和71.5%;与天然阔叶林相比,杉木人工林土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶和磷酸酶活性分别降低了35.8%、22.1%和45.1%,而多酚氧化酶活性增高了40.0%;相反,杉木火力楠混交林土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶和磷酸酶活性比杉木纯林分别增加了20.3%、12.6%和67.8%,而土壤多酚氧化酶活性则降低了41.0%;表明森林植被转变对土壤微生物生物量碳和土壤酶活性能够产生较大的影响,不同的树种对土壤微生物生物量碳和土壤酶活性的影响差异较大。     

Effects of potassium azide on soil microbial populations and soil enzymatic activities.

Preplant applications of potassium azide (KN3) to pine nursery beds were evaluated for effect on the soil microflora and on soil enzyme activity where either plastic-sealing or water-sealing techniques were used. Two weeks after incorporation of azide (0-224 kg/hs), soil samplings revealed reduced populations of bacteria and fungi and a corresponding decline in invertase and amylase activities. These effects were proportionate to the amount of azide used and were more pronounced in plastic-sealed plots. Phosphatase activity was little affected. Five weeks after azide application, bacterial populations were higher in treated plots than in controls. Greater numbers of bacteria were recorded from plastic-sealed plots and highest populations coincided with plots receiving the highest rates of azide, regardless of the sealing technique. Fungal populations at this sampling were generally less in treated plots than in the controls, but were higher under plastic seal. At this time, changes in invertase and amylase activities did not correspond to increased microbial numbers. Sixteen weeks after applications of KN3, bacterial populations in treated plots did not differ significantly from controls, but remained higher in plastic-sealed than water-sealed plots. Fungal populations under plastic seal had changed little and remained significantly lower in treated water-sealed plots than in controls. The earlier recorded reduction in invertase and amylase activities was still evident at the final sampling;     

Effects of grassland species on decomposition of litter and soil microbial communities

Decomposition of litter is greatly influenced not only by its chemical composition but also by activities of soil decomposers. By using leaf litter from 15 plant species collected from semi-natural and improved grasslands, we examined (1) how interspecific differences in the chemical composition of litter influence the abundance and composition of soil bacterial and fungal communities and (2) how such changes in microbial communities are related to the processes of decomposition. The litter from each species was incubated in soil of a standard composition for 60 days under controlled conditions. After incubation, the structure of bacterial and fungal communities in the soil was examined using phospholipid fatty-acid analysis and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Species from improved grasslands had significantly higher rates of nitrogen mineralization and decomposition than those from semi-natural grasslands because the former were richer in nitrogen. Litter from improved grasslands was also richer in Gram-positive bacteria, whereas that from semi-natural grasslands was richer in actinomycetes and fungi. Nitrogen content of litter also influenced the composition of the fungal community. Changes in the composition of both bacterial and fungal communities were closely related to the rate of litter decomposition. These results suggest that plant species greatly influence litter decomposition not only through influencing the quality of substrate but also through changing the composition of soil microbial communities.     

Effects of invasive aquatic carrion on soil chemistry and terrestrial microbial communities

Carrion plays a crucial role in the recycling of nutrients and organic matter in ecosystems. Yet, despite their ecological importance, studies addressing the relevance of carrion originated from invasive alien species (IAS) in the interface between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are uncommon, especially those assessing belowground effects. In this study, we carried out a manipulative experiment to assess the impact of massive mortalities of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) as a carrion subsidy evaluating possible effects on the terrestrial soil chemistry and the structure of a microbial (bacteria and fungi) community. We placed five levels of C. fluminea density (0, 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 ind. m^?2) and samples were collected 7, 30 and 90 days after clams’ addition. The results revealed that C. fluminea carrion have a significant effect belowground, especially on nutrients content (mainly NH₄ ⁺, NO₂ ^?, NO₃ ^? and PO₄ ^3?), fungal biomass and fungal and bacterial diversity. Given the predicted increase and intensification of extreme climatic events and the widespread distribution of several aquatic IAS (including bivalve species such as C. fluminea) the ecological importance of these massive mortalities (and resulting carrion) cannot be ignored because they may affect microbial communities with significant impacts on nutrient cycling, even in adjacent terrestrial habitats.     

鱼蛋白有机液肥对小粉土酶活性和微生物生物量碳、氮的影响

采用恒温土壤培养方法,研究了4种不同鱼蛋白有机液肥施用量[0(对照)、0.5、1.5、2.5 ml·kg-1]条件下小粉土酶活性和微生物生物量碳、氮的变化,及其与土壤养分的相关关系.结果表明:在整个培养过程中,不同鱼蛋白有机液肥施用量处理下土壤pH值变化范围为7.07～7.31,与对照无显著差异;土壤磷酸酶活性显著增强,分别为对照的1.27、1.90、1.96倍;土壤脲酶活性分别比对照提高39.81%、78.06%、173.24%;蛋白酶活性比对照提高56.37%、108.29%、199.98%;土壤微生物生物量碳、氮均随肥料添加量的增加而逐渐增大,分别为对照的1.67、3.95、4.74倍和1.21、2.43、4.06倍.土壤脲酶和蛋白酶活性以及土壤微生物生物量碳、氮在不同施用量处理下达到峰值点的时间不同.土壤磷酸酶、脲酶和蛋白酶活性、土壤微生物生物量碳、氮与土壤养分均呈显著正相关.施用鱼蛋白有机液肥可以显著促进小粉土微生物的生长及酶活性的提高,从而促进土壤有机质的分解转化和速效养分的释放.     

Nutrient availability and pH jointly constrain microbial extracellular enzyme activities in nutrient-poor tundra soils

Background and aims

Tundra soils, which usually contain low concentrations of soil nutrients and have a low pH, store a large proportion of the global soil carbon (C) pool. The importance of soil nitrogen (N) availability for microbial activity in the tundra has received a great deal of attention; however, although soil pH is known to exert a considerable impact on microbial activities across ecosystems, the importance of soil pH in the tundra has not been experimentally investigated.

Methods

We tested a hypothesis that low nutrient availability and pH may limit microbial biomass and microbial capacity for organic matter degradation in acidic tundra heaths by analyzing potential extracellular enzyme activities and microbial biomass after 6 years of factorial treatments of fertilization and liming.

Results

Increasing nutrients enhanced the potential activity of β-glucosidase (synthesized for cellulose degradation). Increasing soil pH, in contrast, reduced the potential activity of β-glucosidase. The soil phospholipid fatty acid concentrations (PLFAs; indicative of the amount of microbial biomass) increased in response to fertilization but were not influenced by liming.

Conclusions

Our results show that soil nutrient availability and pH together control extracellular enzyme activities but with largely differing or even opposing effects. When nutrient limitation was alleviated by fertilization, microbial biomass and enzymatic capacity for cellulose decomposition increased, which likely facilitates greater decomposition of soil organic matter. Increased soil pH, in contrast, reduced enzymatic capacity for cellulose decomposition, which could be related with the bioavailability of organic substrates.     

转基因水稻对土壤微生物群落结构及功能的影响

以非转基因水稻为对照,以变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)和Biolog技术为手段,研究了2种转基因水稻对土壤微生物群落结构及功能的影响。结果显示:转基因水稻仅在生长发育旺盛期对土壤细菌数量有显著影响;且不同品种转基因水稻土壤微生物间的遗传距离大于转基因水稻与对照间土壤微生物的距离,即2个转基因水稻品种对土壤微生物群落遗传多样性的影响均不显著;在水稻抽穗期,2种转基因水稻与其对照的土壤微生物群落在72h时的平均光密度呈现显著差异,而到了成熟期则差异不显著。土壤微生物群落多样性指数和均匀度指数也表现出类似趋势。本试验证明,在水稻生长发育旺盛时期,Mclntosh指数(u)是一个有效区分转基因水稻和非转基因水稻土壤微生物群落多样性的指标。     

Functional stability of microbial communities in contaminated soils

Functional stability, measured in terms of resistance and resilience of respiration and growth rate of bacteria and fungi, was studied in soils that have been exposed to copper and low pH for more than twenty years. We used treatments, consisting of soil with no or high copper load (0 or 750 kg ha^?1) and low or neutral pH (4.0 or 6.1). Stability was examined by applying an additional stress in the form of lead or salt. After addition of lead, respiration (decomposition of freshly added lucerne meal) showed lower resistance at low than at neutral pH and at high copper than at low copper. The most acid and contaminated soil was the least resistant. Respiration showed no resilience after addition of lead. Bacterial growth rate (thymidine incorporation) also showed resistance at low pH but only in soils that were not contaminated with copper. After addition of salt, respiration showed no differences in resistance but the soils without copper contamination showed higher resilience. Bacterial growth rate showed lower resistance at low pH than at neutral pH, the latter in which the growth rate increased by on average 123%. This increase at high pH was faster in soil without copper than in soil with copper contamination in which the growth rate initially decreased and then increased. The effects of secondary stress depended on the nature of the stress (lead or salt) and on the parameter measured (respiration or bacterial growth rate). In general the highest resistance and/or resilience were found in the least contaminated soils with neutral pH and/or no copper contamination. Thus, the microbial communities in the cleaner soils showed the highest functional stability. The results seem to confirm the notion that environmental stress alters ecosystems such that supplementary stress will have stronger impacts than in an unstressed system. The results may also confirm the insurance‐hypothesis that reduced biodiversity due to the first stress negatively affected community stability. As an alternative, we discuss the observed effects in terms of altered energy budget.     

Disconnect of microbial structure and function: enzyme activities and bacterial communities in nascent stream corridors

A fundamental issue in microbial and general ecology is the question to what extent environmental conditions dictate the structure of communities and the linkages with functional properties of ecosystems (that is, ecosystem function). We approached this question by taking advantage of environmental gradients established in soil and sediments of small stream corridors in a recently created, early successional catchment. Specifically, we determined spatial and temporal patterns of bacterial community structure and their linkages with potential microbial enzyme activities along the hydrological flow paths of the catchment. Soil and sediments were sampled in a total of 15 sites on four occasions spread throughout a year. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to characterize bacterial communities, and substrate analogs linked to fluorescent molecules served to track 10 different enzymes as specific measures of ecosystem function. Potential enzyme activities varied little among sites, despite contrasting environmental conditions, especially in terms of water availability. Temporal changes, in contrast, were pronounced and remarkably variable among the enzymes tested. This suggests much greater importance of temporal dynamics than spatial heterogeneity in affecting specific ecosystem functions. Most strikingly, bacterial community structure revealed neither temporal nor spatial patterns. The resulting disconnect between bacterial community structure and potential enzyme activities indicates high functional redundancy within microbial communities even in the physically and biologically simplified stream corridors of early successional landscapes.     

植被恢复对亚热带退化红壤区土壤化学性质与微生物群落的影响

利用1991年在江西省泰和县严重退化的丘陵红壤区建立的长期森林恢复实验基地,以自然恢复的荒草地为对照,分析了湿地松纯林、枫香纯林、湿地松-枫香混交林3种植被类型造林19年后土壤养分和微生物群落数量的变化.结果表明:枫香纯林和湿地松-枫香混交林的土壤有机碳含量(15.16±3.53和16.42±0.49 g·kg-1)显著高于荒草地(9.30±1.13g·kg-1);土壤全磷含量表现为荒草地(0.30±0.02 g·kg-1)＞湿地松-枫香混交林(0.22±0.04g·kg-1)＞枫香纯林(0.14±0.01 g·kg-1);土壤有效磷含量为枫香纯林(1.66±0.02mg·kg-1)、湿地松-枫香混交林(2.47 ±0.27 mg·kg-1)和湿地松纯林(1.15±0.71 mg·kg-1)显著高于荒草地(0.01±0.00 mg·kg-1);土壤的微生物总数、细菌数量及百分比、土壤无机解磷菌和有机解磷菌数量均为枫香纯林、湿地松-枫香混交林显著高于湿地松纯林和荒草地;真菌数量及百分比、放线菌百分比为枫香纯林、湿地松-枫香混交林显著低于荒草地;土壤有机碳含量与细菌百分比呈极显著正相关,与真菌和放线菌百分比呈显著负相关;土壤有效磷与有机解磷菌数量呈显著正相关,与无机解磷菌数量不相关.枫香纯林和湿地松-枫香混交林可以作为亚热带退化红壤区植被恢复的推荐模式.     

垃圾填埋场土壤酶活性与化学性质和微生物数量的关系研究

通过气相色谱／质谱定性分析表明,垃圾填埋场土壤的有机物污染成分复杂,共检出有机物50种。研究表明,随着填埋深度的加深,土壤理化性质,微生物数量和土壤酶活性有很大不同。运用典型相关分析对垃圾填埋场的土壤酶活性与土壤化学性质和微生物数量的关系进行了研究。结果表明。土壤酶活性与化学性质总体上密切相关;土壤酶活性与微生物数量总体上密切相关;但在土壤酶中过氧化氢酶活性与化学性质和微生物数量不相关。