Ground beetle communities on reclaimed mine spoil: Effects of organic matter application and revegetation

On a study site in the Lusatian lignite mining region (Germany), sandy mine spoil was ameliorated with either sewage sludge, compost or mineral fertilizer. Plots were sown with the grass Secale multicaule and planted with pine seedlings except for a control that was not meliorated and not revegetated. Pitfall catches of ground beetles in 1996/97 yielded high numbers of species and individuals directly after revegetation. The dominant beetles were xerophilic species, known to prefer open sandy sites. Catches in different plots were positively correlated with the amount of vegetation cover and declined as follows: amelioration with sewage sludge > compost > mineral fertilizer > untreated control. Even beetles characteristic of open sandy sites showed a distinct preference for plots with high vegetation cover treated with organic waste. For the dominant species, an attraction to shelter and a more balanced, humid microclimate is assumed. A year-to-year comparison showed an increase in beetles typical of dry grasslands and ruderal sites in the second year, while characteristic species of open sandy sites decreased. Application of organic waste combined with revegetation led to an immediate increase in beetle numbers. In the long term, revegetation would be expected to reduce suitable habitats for endangered ground beetles which prefer open sites with poor sandy soils. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Characteristics of Plant Communities and Element Contents in Plants at Mengentaoligai Ag,Pb, Zn Mine area in Inner Mongolia

The types of plant communities in Mengentaoligai mine area are disscussed. Arenaria juncea, densely grown in the phytocommunities of the mineralized zone, is found closely related to the presence of Pb and Zn mineral deposits. Analytical results of seven element contents (in ash) for 34 species (or part of plant) show that: levels of element contents in sequence in. the plants are Fe>Mn > Zn > Pb > Cu > Ni>Co; variable ranges of element contents in the plants are Pb, Zn>Fe,Mn> Cu> Co > Ni; and variable ranges of Pb, Zn contents in the same species at different sites are respectively larger than that among species. For example, Pb and Zn contents of Arenaria juncea, l145ppm and 3087ppm respectively, are the highest; the difference among Pb contents of Ulmus macrocarpa, Arenaria ?uncea and PotentiUa chinensis at different sites are more than 10 folds. The difference of Co and Ni contents in the species is less than two to one- Striking correlation is found between elements in plants and in soils, such as the Pb and Zn contents between leaves and twigs of Ulmus macrocarpa, twigs of Prunus sibirica, Artemisia halodendron and soils (lrl≤α 0.05 or≤α 0.01). It is found that Pb and Zn phytogeochemical anomalies, correlate closely with Pb and Zn mining deposits. In addition, analysis of principal component was conducted among seven elements contents of 14 species (or part of plant) in the mineralized zone and 12 species in the unmineralized zone.     

基于NDVI时间序列轨迹的草原露天矿区植被时空动态特征

采矿作用下草原露天矿区植被时空动态特征尚不明确.以胜利露天矿区为例,选取MODIS和Landsat影像,利用ESTARFM构建2001—2015年植被生长期一致的年际Landsat时间序列,以时间分割算法拟合像元NDVI时间序列轨迹,结合轨迹形态特征提取早期扰动型、持续扰动型、扰动稳定型、扰动稳定恢复型和扰动恢复型5种植被动态类型及各类型的时间特征.结果表明:胜利矿区植被动态类型以扰动恢复型为主,占各类型像元总数的55.2%,扰动稳定型和持续下降型次之,分别为25.6%和11.0%,早期扰动型和扰动稳定恢复型较小,分别为3.5%和4.7%.扰动多发于2004—2009年,稳定期多始于2008年,空间上多分布于露天采场和排土场,恢复期多始于2008年和2010年,其空间范围较小且集中于矿井外围和排土场.扰动持续时长以1年为主,稳定期持续时长以7年为主,恢复期持续时长中稳定恢复型为2～5年,扰动恢复型为8年.     

Bacterial Diversity in Linglong Gold Mine,China

Bacteria have been actively regulating cycles of various elements in the environment. To explore the potential bacterial role in gold biogeochemical cycling, this study analyzed the bacterial diversity of mine rock (MR) and surface soil (SS) samples from Linglong gold mine using 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis and cultivation method. From MR, 24 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified from MR, covering 3 phyla and 18 genera. Meanwhile, 24 OTUs were identified from SS, including 4 phyla and 18 genera. Compared with 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis, 28 aerobic and 34 anaerobic isolates were obtained, whereas 26 aerobic and 71 anaerobic strains were isolated from SS. The cultivable bacteria were affiliated with Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla, and dominated by Firmicutes. These results underscore the high level of bacterial diversity in the gold mine. Our study provides information on the microbial diversity in Linglong gold mine and sheds light on the existence and potential function of bacteria in the gold biogeochemical cycling.     

Screening of Australian Native Grasses for Rhizoremediation of Aliphatic Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soil

Rhizoremediation involves the breakdown of contaminants in soil resulting from microbial activity that is enhanced in the plant root zone. The objective of this study was to identify Australian native grass species as suitable candidates for rhizoremediation application. Seeds of nine perennial Australian native grasses were sown in soil from a mine site and artificially contaminated with a 60:40 diesel/oil mixture at concentrations of 1% (w/w), 0.5% (w/w), and 0% (control). Seedling emergence was not adversely affected by the presence of hydrocarbon contamination for all but one grass species. Three promising species (Brachiaria decumbens, Cymbopogon ambiguus, and Microlaena stipoides var. Griffin) were assessed for growth characterization in contaminated and uncontaminated soils. The evaluated species survived for 120 days in the contaminated soil and, in some instances, produced considerably more root biomass in the presence of contamination. C. ambiguus showed growth stimulation in the presence of contamination (1% and 0.5% w/w) with significantly increased root biomass production compared with the control (p = 0.0001). B. decumbens and M. stipoides showed tolerance, without adverse growth effects in the presence of diesel/oil at the exposed concentrations. Stimulation of the rhizosphere microbial population that is capable of degrading diesel/oil was found for all of the species tested, using a most probable number method for enumeration. This investigation has identified suitable candidates for further investigation of their rhizoremediation potential.     

Comparison of Organic and Chemical Soil Amendments Used in the Reforestation of a Harsh Sierra Nevada Site

Abstract A comparison of a composted organic amendment, a controlled‐release fertilizer, and induced mycorrhizal inoculation as affecting the establishment and nutrition of bareroot Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.) was conducted on a Sierra Nevada surface mine. The soil amendments were applied at outplanting to the backfill of augered planting holes, with a low rate of 8 g and a high rate of 16 g per seedling for the fertilizer, Gromax 21‐6‐2 + Minors, whereas a single rate of 2.0 L was used for organic matter. Colonization by Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker & Couch was induced by coating the root systems with basidiospores suspended in a gel carrier. The organic amendment especially, but also mycorrhizal inoculation, caused substantial seedling mortality, whereas survival was unaffected by controlled‐release fertilization. Gromax applied at the high rate produced a 74% increase in shoot volume after three growing seasons, whereas the organic amendment reduced volume by 28%. Growth was unaffected by mycorrhizal treatment. The growth response to the 16‐g Gromax application probably reflected enhanced N, P, and K nutrition and decreased concentrations of potentially toxic metallic elements, including Mn and Al among others, as revealed through foliar analysis. Because they were accompanied by growth reduction, nutritional responses to the organic amendment, which involved both macronutrients and trace elements, were of little consequence. Impaired water relations may account for the poor response to this amendment. Likewise, nutritional responses to mycorrhizal inoculation produced no discernible benefit in terms of seedling performance. An inoculation procedure that failed to induce substantially greater P. tinctorius colonization in inoculated than uninoculated seedlings, and that may have also impaired water relations, likely explains this result. Overall, these findings indicate that further research is needed before either the organic amendment or the mycorrhizal inoculation procedure used here can be used in forest restoration efforts on dry sites.     

出芽短梗霉F4的溶磷能力及机理

从安徽省铜陵市铜官山尾矿库木贼根际分离筛选出的出芽短梗霉F4,以磷酸钙、磷酸铝、磷酸铁和磷矿粉4种不同磷源进行液体培养,测定培养液的pH、水溶性磷、菌体磷及有机酸含量.结果表明： 菌株F4对不同磷源的溶磷能力为：磷酸铝>磷酸铁、磷酸钙>磷矿粉,溶磷量均高于200 mg·L^-1;培养液pH在48 h内迅速下降,以磷酸铝、磷酸铁为磷源的培养液pH下降幅度明显大于磷酸钙与磷矿粉.出芽短梗霉F4产生的有机酸主要为草酸、柠檬酸和酒石酸,其中,以草酸为主.菌株的溶磷能力与有机酸无显著相关性,而与pH呈显著相关.接种出芽短梗霉F4时加入葡萄糖,尾矿中速效磷含量显著增加,说明出芽短梗霉F4在尾矿生态修复中具有潜在的应用价值.
     

引入土壤种子库对铅锌尾矿废弃地植被恢复的作用

检测了丢荒旱作地土壤种子库,其种子含量为（６８５０±３７７）·ｍ－２,共有４１种植物。其中９２．７％的种和 ７５． ８％的种子是分布在 ０～２ ｃｍ的表层中。从丢荒旱作地采挖 １０ ｃｍ深的表层土壤,以 １ｃｍ, ２ ｃｍ, ４ ｃｍ和 ８ ｃｍ 等４种不同厚度分别铺放在铅锌矿尾矿废弃地试验小区上。尽管由于铺土厚度不同,各小区所含有的土壤种子库 中的种子数量也不同,但４种铺土处理试验,其幼苗平均数量分别为每平方米８８３± ４３４,９９５± １５８,１２４２± ３２７ 和８０３±３１株,经检验差异不显著,而不铺放表土的对照区则没有幼苗生长。可见,如果仅仅是作为提供种子资源 而引入土壤种子库,则铺放 １ｃｍ的表土就已足够。然而,经过１年以后,在铺放表土厚度为１ｃｍ, ２ ｃｍ和 ４ ｃｍ处 理上的幼苗全部死亡,只有铺放 ８ ｃｍ厚度表土的小区上实现了植被恢复,共有 １５种植物成功定居,其中有 １１种开 花结果,盖度达１００％。这说明了较薄的表土不足以有效阻隔尾矿与大气的接触,减缓酸化,以及缓冲尾矿酸化的影 响,此外较薄的表土也无法提供植物根系足够的生长空间。因此,如能预先铺放一层阻隔层,如底土、馀坭、垃圾之 类,再引入土壤种子库将有助于土壤种子     

Invertebrate DNA metabarcoding reveals changes in communities across mine site restoration chronosequences

Invertebrate biomonitoring can reveal crucial information about the status of restoration projects; however, it is routinely underused because of the high level of taxonomic expertise and resources required. Invertebrate DNA metabarcoding has been used to characterize invertebrate biodiversity but its application in restoration remains untested. We use DNA metabarcoding, a new approach for restoration assessment, to explore the invertebrate composition from pitfall traps at two mine site restoration chronosequences in southwestern Australia. Invertebrates were profiled using two cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 assays to investigate invertebrate biodiversity. The data revealed differences between invertebrate communities at the two mines and between the different age plots of the chronosequences. Several characteristic taxa were identified for each age within the chronosequence, including springtails within the youngest sites (Order: Collembola) and millipedes within the oldest and reference sites (Order: Julida). This study facilitates development of a molecular “toolkit” for the monitoring of ecological restoration projects. We suggest that a metabarcoding approach shows promise in complementing current monitoring practices that rely on alpha taxonomy.     

A Novel Community of Acidophiles in an Acid Mine Drainage Sediment

A sediment sample (pH 2.5) was collected at an acid mine drainage site in Anhui, China. The present acidophilic microbial community in the sediment was studied with a 16S rRNA gene clone library. Small-subunit rRNA genes were PCR amplified, cloned and screened by amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). Subsequently, 10 different clones were identified and they were affiliated with Acidobacteria, β/γ-Proteobacteria, δ-Proteobacteria, Nitrospira, Candidate division TM7, and Low G + C Gram-positives. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed a diversity of acidophiles in the sediment that were mostly novel. Unexpectedly, 16S rRNA gene sequences affiliated with δ-Proteobacteria were found to constitute more than 60% of clone library. To our knowledge, this is the first occasion that bacteria of δ-Proteobacteria have been found dominant in the acidic habitat. Anaerobic sulfate- or metal reduction is the predominant physiological trait of bacteria of this subdivision. The high sulfate, ferric iron and the presence of bioavailable carbon in the anaerobic microenvironment may result in the dominance of bacteria of δ-Proteobacteria.