Microbial Community Structure and Carbon-Utilization Diversity in a Mine Tailings Revegetation Study

Restoration of metals‐contaminated environments requires a functional microbial community for successful plant community establishment, soil development, and biogeochemical cycling. Our research measured microbial community structure and carbon‐utilization diversity in treatment plots from a mine waste revegetation project near Butte, Montana. Treatments included two controls (raw tailings) either (1) with or (2) without tilling, (3) shallow‐tilled lime addition, (4) deep‐tilled lime addition, (5) lime slurry injection, (6) topsoil addition, and (7) an undisturbed area near the tailings. Microbial community structural differences were assayed by plate counts of heterotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, and bacterial endospores, and quantification of arbuscular mycorrhizae colonization. Metabolic diversity differences were assessed by carbon‐utilization profiles generated with Biolog microtiter plates. Heterotrophic bacteria counts were significantly higher in the limed and topsoil treatment plots than the control plots, and the actinomycete and fungal counts increased in the tilled control plot as well. Endospore counts were significantly higher in the topsoil addition and the undisturbed plots than the other treatment plots. Carbon‐utilization activity was very low in untreated plots, intermediate in lime‐treated plots, and very high in topsoil and undisturbed plots. Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) colonization levels of two grass species showed low levels of colonization on control, shallow‐limed, and lime slurry‐injected plots, and high levels on the deep‐limed and topsoil‐addition plots. Plant and soil system components increased across the treatment plots, but individual components responded differently to changing environmental conditions.     

Mycorrhizal infection of an Agrostis capillaris population on a copper contaminated soil

To investigate the possible natural development of heavy metal tolerance in VA-mycorrhizal fungi, plants of Agrostis capillaris from an uncontaminated, a copper-contaminated and a zinc/cadmium-contaminated area were examined for VA-mycorrhizal infection. During a period of 5 years (1987 to 1991) the plants of the copper-tolerant population were hardly infected, whereas the population on the uncontaminated soil showed a mean infection of nearly 60% and the zinc/cadmium-tolerant population of 40%. A detailed analysis of the surroundings of the copper-enriched site revealed the presence of VA-mycorrhizal fungi and a negative correlation between the infection rate of A. capillaris and the copper content of the soil. In contrast to the copper-contaminated soil, the abundant presence of VA-mycorrhizal fungi in the area contaminated by zinc and cadmium indicates that these fungi have evolved a zinc and cadmium tolerance and that they may play a role in the zinc and cadmium tolerance of A. capillaris.     

山东省台上金矿区赤松林叶绿素含量的季节动态

在1991年春、夏、秋三个季节对山东省招远市台上金矿区赤松林叶绿素含量的变化进行了测定,并与背景区作比较,对金矿区和背景区赤松针叶中的Au、Ag、Cu、Pb元素含量也进行了比较。金矿区和背景区Au、Ag、Cu、Pb元素含量有明显差异,金矿区高于背景区数倍,这对赤松的生长有一定影响,与叶绿素含量有一定的正相关;无论金矿区还是背景区,赤松一年生叶和二年生叶的叶绿素总量变化规律大体一致,都是春季较低,随气温上升而开始增加,至夏末达到最大值,然后从秋季开始下降,金矿区叶绿素总量低于背景区,一年生叶略高于二年生叶;当叶绿素总量变化时,叶绿素a/b的比率稍有波动,但几乎保持不变,金矿区和背景区也无差异。     

Metal exposures to native populations of the caddisfly Hydropsyche (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) determined from cytosolic and whole body metal concentrations

Metal concentrations of the soluble fraction of the cytoplasm (cytosol) and the whole body were determined in the caddisfly Hydropsyche spp. (Trichoptera). Metal accumulation in the cytosol and the whole body were compared in samples collected along 380 kms of a contamination gradient in the Clark Fork river in four consecutive years (1992–1995), and from a contaminated tributary (Flint Creek). Samples from the contaminated sites were compared to an uncontaminated tributary (Blackfoot River). Relations between cytosolic metal concentration and cytosolic protein (used as a general biomarker of protein metabolism) also were examined in 1994 and 1995. Relative to whole body concentrations, cytosolic metal concentrations varied among metals and years. Spatial patterns in whole body and cytosolic Cd, Cu and Pb concentrations were qualitatively similar each year, and these concentrations generally corresponded to contamination levels measured in bed sediments. The proportions of metals recovered in the cytosol of ranged from 12 to 64% for Cd and Cu and from 2 to 38% for Pb. Zinc in the whole body also was consistent with contamination levels, but cytosolic Zn concentrations increased only at the highest whole body Zn concentrations. As a result, the proportion of Zn recovered in the cytosol ranged from 16 to 63% and tended to be inversely related to whole body Zn concentrations. The proportions of cytosolic metals varied significantly among years and, as a result, interannual differences in metal concentrations were greater in the cytosol than in the whole body. The results demonstrated that Hydropsyche in the river were chronically exposed to biologically available metals. Some features of this exposure were not evident from whole body concentrations. In general, protein levels did not correspond to cytosolic metal concentrations. A variety of environmental factors could interact with metal exposures to produce complex responses in protein metabolism. Systematic study will be necessary to differentiate the effects of multiple environmental stressors on organisms living in contaminated ecosystems. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Elemental concentrations in plant tissues as influenced by low pH soils

Summary Soils influenced by acid mine drainage (pH<5.0) are characterized by low concentrations of essential nutrients and increased solubility of heavy metals. The conditions typically reduce plant establishment and growth. However, river birch (Betula nigra L.) is commonly found along low pH streams in southeastern Ohio. The objective of this study was to determine the concentration of Al, Mn, Ca and Mg inB. nigra tissues.The results indicate Al and Mn are accumulating inB. nigra when compared to other species. Within river birch, Al concentrations are highest in roots; Mn concentrations are highest in leaves. There is not a concomitant reduction in Ca and Mg concentrations as suggested by soil levels.     

Characterization of Bacterial Flora from Afşin–Elbistan Lignite Mine for Potential Microbial Biotech Applications

Abstract

The energy demand is enhancing day by day all over the world with the increasing of huge population. Lignite, a fossil fuel with low energy efficiency, is used in many different fields. However, lignite is primarily an energy source and its use without treatment causes environmental pollution as well as low energy efficiency. Advantages are known for the use of microorganisms in lignite processing technologies, and research is underway to improve this process. In this research designed to meet this need, isolation and characterization of bacteria with potential for use in biotechnological applications resistant to extreme conditions were performed from lignite mine. Turkey’s largest lignite mine bacterial flora have been identified for the first time in this study. In addition to lignite processing technologies, a bacterial strain collection has been created to be used in other biotechnological studies. This collection of bacteria includes Methylorubrum zatmanii, Streptomyces argenteolus, Streptomyces galilaeus, Pseudomonas mandelii, Paenarthrobacter aurescens, Paeniglutamicibacter sulfureus, Arthrobacter humicola, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus safensis, Kocuria polaris, Arthrobacter sp., Rhodococcus sp. This specific bacteria collection is open to sharing with other researchers who want to do field applications.     

Metal species indicate the potential of constructed wetlands for long-term treatment of metal mine drainage

Experimental peat-based wetlands at the former Bell Copper Mine (Smithers, B.C., Canada) removed copper from low strength (0.3–1.0 ppm, pH 6–8) and high strength (35–50 ppm, pH 3) copper-contaminated mine drainage. Copper species retained in wetlands sediments were quantified as a means to assess the long-term potential of these wetlands for treating mine drainage. Previous microbial and chemical analyses had indicated that sulphide was biologically generated in these wetlands, and mineralogical analysis confirmed that copper sulphides were present in wetland sediments. However, sequential leaching of these sediments showed that copper was predominantly in organically-bound and oxide-bound phases, with a smaller proportion present as sulphides. The available data suggest that much of the copper was retained as sulphides when low strength mine drainage was applied to the wetlands.