Response of microbial activity and microbial community composition in soils to long-term arsenic and cadmium exposure

Arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) in soils can affect soil microbial function and community composition and, therefore, may have effects on soil ecosystem functioning. The aim of our study was to assess the effects of long-term As and Cd contamination on soil microbial community composition and soil enz...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Soil biology & biochemistry 2006-06, Vol.38 (6), p.1430-1437
Main Authors: Lorenz, Nicola, Hintemann, Therese, Kramarewa, Tanja, Katayama, Arata, Yasuta, Tsuyoshi, Marschner, Petra, Kandeler, Ellen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actinobacteria
Arsenic
Cadmium
community structure
Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis
Enzyme activities
enzyme activity
Firmicutes
gel electrophoresis
heavy metals
microbial activity
Microbial community composition
polluted soils
polymerase chain reaction
Proteobacteria
Quinones
soil enzymes
soil pollution
soil respiration
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Summary:Arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) in soils can affect soil microbial function and community composition and, therefore, may have effects on soil ecosystem functioning. The aim of our study was to assess the effects of long-term As and Cd contamination on soil microbial community composition and soil enzyme activities. We analyzed soils that have been contaminated 25 years ago and at present still show enhanced levels of either As, 18 and 39 mg kg −1, or Cd, 34 and 134 mg kg −1. Soil without heavy metal addition served as control. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) showed that bacterial community composition in As and Cd contaminated soils differed from that in the control soil. The same was true for the microbial community composition assessed by analysis of respiratory quinones. Soil fungi and Proteobacteria appeared to be tolerant towards As and Cd, while other groups of bacteria were reduced. The decline in alkaline phosphatase, arylsulphatase, protease and urease activities in the As- and Cd-contaminated soils was correlated with a decrease of respiratory quinones occuring in Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. Xylanase activity was unaffected or elevated in the contaminated soils which was correlated with a higher abundance of fungal quinones, and quinones found in Proteobacteria.
ISSN:0038-0717
1879-3428
DOI:10.1016/j.soilbio.2005.10.020