Substrate-induced changes in microbial community-level physiological profiles and their application to discriminate soil microbial communities

The addition of simple substrates could affect the microbial respiration in soils. This substrate-induced respiration is widely used to estimate the soil microbial biomass, but little attention has been paid to its influence on the changes of community-level physiological profiles. In this study, the process of microbial communities responding to the added substrate using sole-carbon-source utilization （BIOLOG） was investigated. BIOLOG is biased toward fast-growing bacteria; this advantage was taken to detect the prompt response of the active microbial communities to the added substrate. Four soil samples from agricultural fields adjacent to heavy metal mines were amended with L-arginine, citric acid, or D-glucose. Substrate amendments could, generally, not only increase the metabolic activity of the microbial communities, but also change the metabolic diverse patterns compared with no-substrate control. By tracking the process, it was found that the variance between substrate-induced treatment and control fluctuated greatly during the incubation course, and the influences of these three substrates were different. In addition, the application of these induced changes to discriminate soil microbial communities was tested. The distance among all samples was greatly increased, which further showed the functional variance among microbial communities in soils. This can be very useful in the discrimination of microbial communities even with high similarity.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations, compositions, sources, and associated carcinogenic risks to humans in farmland soils and riverine sediments from Guiyu, China

The concentrations of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) were measured in 23 farmland soil samples and 10 riverine sediment samples from Guiyu, China, and the carcinogenic risks associated with PAHs in the samples were evaluated. Guiyu is the largest electronic waste(EW) dismantling area globally, and has been well known for the primitive and crude manner in which EWs are disposed, such as by open burning and roasting. The total PAH concentrations were 56–567 ng/g in the soils and 181–3034 ng/g in the sediments.The Shanglian and Huamei districts were found to be more contaminated with PAHs than the north of Guiyu. The soils were relatively weakly contaminated but the sediments were more contaminated, and sediments in some river sections might cause carcinogenic risks to the groundwater system. The PAHs in the soils were derived from combustion sources,but the PAHs in the sediments were derived from both combustion and petroleum sources.     

Bacterial diversity in soils around a lead and zinc mine

Five samples of soil collected from a lead and zinc mine were used to assess the effect of combined contamination of heavy metals on soil bacterial communities using a polyphasic approach including characterization of isolates by culture method, community level catabolic profiling in BIOLOG GN microplates, and genetic community fingerprinting by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rDNA fragments amplified by PCR from community DNA （PCR-DGGE）. The structure of the bacterial community was affected to a certain extent by heavy metals. The PCR-DGGE analysis of 16S rRNA genes showed that there were significant differences in the structure of the microbial community among the soil samples, which were related to the contamination levels. The number of bacteria and the number of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis （DGGE） bands in the soils increased with increasing distance from the lead and zinc mine tailing, whereas the concentration of lead （Pb） and cadmium （Cd） was decreased. Heavily polluted soils could be characterized by a community that differs from those of lightly polluted soils in richness and structure of dominating bacterial populations. The clustering analysis of the DGGE profiles showed that the bacteria in all the five samples of soil belonged to three clusters. The data from the BIOLOG analysis also showed the same result. This study showed that heavy metal contamination decreased both the biomass and diversity of the bacterial community in soil.     

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting of soil bacteria in the vicinity of the Chinese Great Wall Station, King George Island, Antarctica

Bacterial diversity was investigated in soil samples collected from 13 sites around the Great Wall Station, Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica, using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rRNA genes. The classes α-, β-, and γ-Proteobacteria, as well as the phylum Actinobacteria, were found to be the dominant bacteria in the soils around the Great Wall Station. Although the selected samples were not contaminated by oil, a relationship between soil parameters, microbial biodiversity, and human impact was still seen. Sample sites in human impacted areas showed lower bacterial biodiversity (average H′= 2.65) when compared to nonimpacted sites (average H′= 3.05). There was no statistically significant correlation between soil bacterial diversity and total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen, or total phosphorus contents of the soil. Canonical correlation analysis showed that TOC content was the most important factor determining bacterial community profiles among the measured soil parameters. In conclusion, microbial biodiversity and community characteristics within relatively small scales (1.5 km) were determined as a function of local environment parameters and anthropogenic impact.     

Single and joint effects of pesticides and mercury on soil urease

The influence of two pesticides including chlorimuron-ethyl and furadan and mercury （Hg） on urease activity in 4 soils （meadow burozem and phaeozem） was investigated. The soils were exposed to various concentrations of the two pesticides and Hg individually and simultaneously. Results showed that there was a close relationship between urease activity and organic matter content in soil. Chlorimuron-ethyl and furadan could both activate urease in the 4 soils. The maximum increment of urease activity by chlorimuronethyl was up to 14%-18%. There was almost an equal increase （up to 13%-21%） in the urease activity by furadan. On the contrary, Hg markedly inhibited soil urease activity. A logarithmic equation was used to describe the relationship （P〈0.05） between the concentration of Hg and the activity of soil urease in the 4 tested soils. Semi-effect dose （ED50） values by the stress of Hg based on the inhibition of soil urease in the 4 soils were 88, 5.5, 24 and 20 mg/kg, respectively, according to the calculation of the corresponding equations. The interactive effect of chlorimuron-ethyl or furadan with metal Hg on soil urease was mainly synergic at the highest tested concentrations.     

Dynamic changes in microbial activity and community structure during biodegradation of petroleum compounds： A laboratory experiment

With 110-d incubation experiment in laboratory,the responses of microbial quantity,soil enzymatic activity,and bacterial community structure to different amounts of diesel fuel amendments were studied to reveal whether certain biological and biochemical characteristics could serve as reliable indicators of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in meadow-brown soil,and use these indicators to evaluate the actual ecological impacts of 50-year petroleum-refining wastewater irrigation on soil function in Sbenfu irrigation area.Results showed that amendments of≤1000 mg/kg diesel fuel stimulated the growth of aerobic beterotrophic bacteria,and increased the activity of soil dehydrogenase,hydrogenperoxidase,polypbenol oxidase and substrate-induced respiration.Soil bacterial diversity decreased slightly during the first 15 d of incubation and recovered to the control level on day 30.The significant decrease of the colony forming units of soil actinomyces and filamentous fungi can be taken as the sensitive biological indicators of petroleum contamination when soil was amended with≥5000 mg/kg diesel fuel.The sharp decrease in urease activity was recommended as the most sensitive biochemical indicator of heavy diesel fuel contamination.The shifts in community structure to a community documented by Sphingomonadaceae withinα-subgroup of Proteobacteria could be served as a sensitive and precise indicator of diesel fuel contamination.Based on the results described in this paper,the soil function in Shenfu irrigation area was disturbed to some extent.     

Stability of soil organic carbon changes in successive rotations of Chinese fir （Cunninghamia lanceolata （Lamb.） Hook） plantations

The importance of soil organic carbon (SOC) under forests in the global carbon cycle depends on the stability of the soil carbon and its availability to soil microbial biomass. We investigated the e ects of successive rotations of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) plantations on the stability of SOC and its availability to microbes by adopting the two-step hydrolysis with H2SO4 and density fractionation. The results showed that successive rotations of Chinese fir decreased the quantity of total SOC, recalcitrant fraction, and carbohydrates in Labile Pool I (LP I), and microbial properties evidently, especially at 0–10 cm horizon. However, cellulose included in Labile Pool II (LP II) and the cellulose/total carbohydrates ratio increased in successive rotations of Chinese fir. The noncellulose of carbohydrates included in LP I maybe highly available to soil microbial biomass. Hence the availability of SOC to microbial biomass declined over the successive rotations. Although there was no significant change in recalcitrance of SOC over the successive rotations of Chinese fir, the percentage of heavy fraction to total SOC increased, suggesting that the degree of physical protection for SOC increased and SOC became more stable over the successive rotations. The degradation of SOC quality in successive rotation soils may be attributed to worse environmental conditions resulted from disturbance that related to “slash and burn” site preparation. Being highly correlated with soil microbial properties, the cellulose/total carbohydrates ratio as an e ective indicator of changes in availability of SOC to microbial biomass brought by management practices in forest soils.     

Soil resource availability impacts microbial response to organic carbon and inorganic nitrogen inputs

Impacts of newly added organic carbon （C） and inorganic nitrogen （N） on the microbial utilization of soil organic matter are important in determining the future C balance of terrestrial ecosystems. We examined microbial responses to cellulose and ammonium nitrate additions in three soils with very different C and N availability. These soils included an organic soil（ 14.2% total organic C, with extremely high extractable N and low labile C）, a forest soi1（4.7% total organic C, with high labile C and extremely low extractable N）, and a grassland soil（1.6% total organic C, with low extractable N and labile C）. While cellulose addition alone significantly enhanced microbial respiration and biomass C and N in the organic and grassland soils, it accelerated only the microbial respiration in the highly-N limited forest soil. These results indicated that when N was not limited, C addition enhanced soil respiration by stimulating both microbial growth and their metabolic activity, New C inputs lead to elevated C release in all three soils, and the magnitude of the enhancement was higher in the organic and grassland soils than the forest soil. The addition of cellulose plus N to the forest and grassland soils initially increased the microbial biomass and respiration rates, but decreased the rates as time progressed. Compared to cellulose addition alone, cellulose plus N additions increased the total C-released in the grassland soil, but not in the forest soil. The enhancement of total C- released induced by C and N addition was less than 50% of the added-C in the forest soil after 96 d of incubation, in contrast to 87.5% and 89.0% in the organic and grassland soils. These results indicate that indigenous soil C and N availability substantially impacts the allocation of organic C for microbial biomass growth and/or respiration, potentially regulating the turnover rates of the new organic C inputs.     

Soil pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: A comparison of two Chinese cities

Soil samples from Huizhou and Zhanjiang, China were analyzed for 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with harmonized sampling, sample extraction and analysis quantification methods. The concentrations and sources of PAHs in soil samples of the two cities were compared. Almost all of the PAH components were detectable in 103 soil samples. The concentrations of ΣPAHs ranged from 35.40 to 534.5 g/kg in soil samples from Huizhou, and ranged from 9.50 to 6618.00 g/kg in samples from Zhanjiang. Evident differences of concentrations, compositions and sources of PAHs in soils were observed between the two cities. The average concentrations of individual component and the sum of a group of PAHs in soil samples from Zhanjiang were significantly higher than those in Huizhou (P < 0.05). Phe, Flu, Pyr, Bbf and Baa were the dominant PAH components both in soil samples from Huizhou and Zhanjiang. Except for these five components, Bap, I1p, Daa and Bgp were also the dominant PAH components in soil samples from Zhanjiang. Coal combustion and liquid fossil fuel combustion were the same sources of PAHs in the two cities with different contributions, and petroleum played a key role in PAHs release in Zhanjiang.     

Copper pollution decreases the resistance of soil microbial community to subsequent dry–rewetting disturbance

Dry–rewetting(DW) disturbance frequently occurs in soils due to rainfall and irrigation, and the frequency of DW cycles might exert significant influences on soil microbial communities and their mediated functions. However, how microorganisms respond to DW alternations in soils with a history of heavy metal pollution remains largely unknown.Here, soil laboratory microcosms were constructed to explore the impacts of ten DW cycles on the soil microbial communities in two contrasting soils(fluvo-aquic soil and red soil)under three copper concentrations(zero, medium and high). Results showed that the fluctuations of substrate induced respiration(SIR) decreased with repeated cycles of DW alternation. Furthermore, the resistance values of substrate induced respiration(RS-SIR)were highest in non-copper-stressed(zero) soils. Structural equation model(SEM) analysis ascertained that the shifts of bacterial communities determined the changes of RS-SIR in both soils. The rate of bacterial community variance was significantly lower in noncopper-stressed soil compared to the other two copper-stressed(medium and high) soils,which might lead to the higher RS-SIR in the fluvo-aquic soil. As for the red soil, the substantial increase of the dominant group WPS-2 after DW disturbance might result in the low RS-SIR in the high copper-stressed soil. Moreover, in both soils, the bacterial diversity was highest in non-copper-stressed soils. Our results revealed that initial copper stress could decrease the resistance of soil microbial community structure and function to subsequent DW disturbance.     

Bacterial diversity in Fez tanneries and Morocco’s Binlamdoune River, using 16S RNA gene based fingerprinting

Tannery wastewater causes serious ecological and sanitary damage. Chemical analysis of water from Binlamdoune River of the medina of Fez was conducted and the results revealed the presence of toxic elements from tanneries and other industrial activities, which strongly a ected water quality. To determine the e ectiveness of bioremediation for depollution, we studied the abundance and diversity of bacteria residing in these polluted environments. Conducting denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) of the 16S rDNA area using primers related to bacteria showed a bacterial community belonging to eubacterial groups, that is, Epsilonproteobacteria, Clostridia, Lactobacillales, Bacteroidetes, Gammaproteobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria. In addition, cloning displayed the presence of clones belonging to the Firmicutes group. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy revealed a significant heterogeneity of microorganism forms and structures. These endogenous microbes could have a significant role in the purification of Binlamdoune River and Fez tannery wastewater.     

城市河流异养菌耐药状况及微生物群落结构特征

为深入了解城市河流中细菌的耐药状况和微生物群落结构特征,在西安市浐河和灞河河段8个采样点以及某污水处理厂二级出水排放口采集水样,利用细菌培养技术、PCR检测和DGGE(变性梯度凝胶电泳)分析技术,对河流中异养菌耐药率、四环素抗性基因以及微生物群落结构进行研究. 结果表明:浐河和灞河水样中异养菌对SMZ(磺胺甲恶唑)、TET(四环素)、CIP(环丙沙星)和CTX(头孢噻肟)的平均耐药率分别为18.3%、6.2%、2.7%和1.3%,耐药率高低顺序与污水厂排放水中的异养菌相同. 城市河流中异养菌浓度与其耐药率并不存在显著的相关性. 与上游河段相比,污水厂排放口下游河段的异养菌浓度没有明显增加,但对多种抗生素的耐药率却有所升高. 浐河和灞河中四环素抗性基因主要是tetA和tetB,检出率分别为100%和75%,这意味着城市河流中异养菌对TET的耐药性可能主要通过编码外输泵蛋白的抗性机制来实现. 污水厂排放水进入城市河流,并未显著影响河流中的微生物群落结构,但却使某些原有的敏感物种消失,而病原菌或条件致病菌在邻近污水厂排放口的下游河段则有所增加.      

湟水河流域水质时空变化特征及其污染源解析

基于2012—2014年水质数据,综合应用多元统计分析与一维水质模型(Qual2Kw),系统分析了湟水河水质时空变化及其污染物来源.结果表明:湟水河河流水质主要受化学需氧量、生化需氧量、铜、六价铬、水温、溶解氧、总氮、氨氮等8项水质指标影响,且氨氮和总氮污染严重;湟水河水质时间上可划分为3个时段:时段1(6—10月)、时段2(5月和11月)和时段3(12月—4月),时段1水质明显优于时段2和时段3,湟水河水体受工业生活排放污水的影响显著,面源污染对河流水质的影响低于点源污染;空间上可分为3大区段:湟水河上游、中游和下游,中游西宁市段污染较重;基于Qual2Kw模型的污染物贡献比例计算结果揭示了湟水河民和桥断面的氨氮负荷主要来源于扎马隆(S2)-西钢桥(S3),总氮主要来源于报社桥(S5)-小峡桥(S6),其中支流点源是氨氮的主要污染源,普通点源即城镇生活污水和工业废水排放是总氮的主要污染来源,上游干流农田地表径流、畜禽养殖废水、农村生活污水等污染源氨氮、总氮排放也不容忽视.研究结果可以为湟水河流域水环境管理提供科学依据.     

长江下游快速城市化地区水污染特征及源解析:以秦淮河流域为例

明晰区域水污染现状及污染物与污染源之间的关系是实施水环境精细化管理和区域水污染治理对策的前提.水质标识指数法（WQI）和聚类分析（CA）被用于研究2015~2019年秦淮河流域29个监测站点的11个水质参数的时空变化特征,并利用PMF模型和SIAR同位素源解析模型解析秦淮河流域的污染物来源及贡献率.结果表明,秦淮河流域河道水体总体为中度污染,TN浓度超标是流域水体污染的主要原因;2015~2019年WQI值呈现下降的趋势;空间聚类和PMF分析结果显示：①高污染区位于秦淮河下游城市化程度较高的城区、溧水主城和江宁大学城内的河道及牛首山河,污染源主要为生活污水、商服业污水（28.88%）及工业废水排放（27.43%）;②中污染区位于秦淮河下游的江宁开发区和秣陵街道及中上游的禄口街道内河道,主要污染源为城乡生活废水和商服污水（31.62%）、工业废水（27.25%）和内源污染（24.76%）;③低污染区位于秦淮河流域湖熟街道内河道及二、三干河,主要污染源为农村生活污水和生活垃圾（28.79%）及农业非点源污染（24.3%）;云台山河子流域内NO₃^--N是氮污染物在子流域受纳水体中的主要存在形式,SIAR溯源结果显示云台山河子流域的NO₃^--N主要来源于生活污水（61%）和土壤有机氮（34%）.本研究结果可为秦淮河流域水污染治理和水生态保护措施提供科学依据和基础.     

感潮河流环境需水量预测及敏感性分析--以深圳河为例

以深圳河为研究区域,应用～维非恒定水质模型计算了感潮河流的环境需水量,并针对污染负荷、补水水质、潮汐和污水厂尾水处置等因素对环境需水量的影响进行敏感性分析．结果表明,随着污染负荷和补水本底污染物浓度的增加,环境需水量分别成近似线性和指数函数增加;大、小潮时深圳河的环境需水量差别不大,但涨、落潮的影响却不能忽略;将污水厂尾水输送到流域外排放或将尾水资源化后作为河道补水可以大大减少环境需水量因此,掌握环境需水量的变化规律,对于感潮河流水环境综合治理中截污、补水、污水厂尾水处置等方案的决策具有重要的指导意义．     

黄河流域氮磷营养盐动态特征及主要影响因素

收集了黄河流域下游主要干流监测站近40a来(氮数据)或20a(磷数据)来的水质数据,同时,收集了流域各省人口、氮肥磷肥施用量(折纯)及工业废水排放量等数据,研究了黄河氮磷营养盐通量(或浓度)的多年变化趋势,并统计了水质变化与流域人口、化肥用量和工业废水排放量等社会经济指标的关系.结果表明,黄河氮输送通量近40a来有不断升高的趋势,但1990s后期受黄河断流影响有明显下降;同时,由于下游引黄灌区大量取水使得花园口-利津之间的氮通量相对入海口的氮通量为负值.黄河总磷含量在一定范围内波动,没有呈现趋势性变化,受断流影响1990s后期总磷含量值也明显减小.进一步分析表明,黄河氮输送通量的变化主要受流域内人口、氮肥施用量的影响,而与工业废水排放量没有统计上的相关性;黄河总磷含量和流域人口、磷肥施用量和废水排放量均无相关性,而与黄河水体中悬浮物含量显著相关.回归分析结果表明,黄河水体悬浮物中的总磷含量为0.54g·kg-1,与黄土高原总磷背景值十分接近.由于黄河悬浮物主要来自黄土高原,故判断黄河总磷输送的主要影响因素是黄土高原的水土流失.查明黄河流域氮磷输送量多年变化情况和主要影响因素可为流域和海域污染控制及负荷分配提供依据.     

拉萨河全氟化合物的时空分布特征研究

对拉萨河27个采样点、拉萨污水处理厂分别在丰水期和枯水期进行水样的采集,并用双三元二维液相色谱-串联质谱法（DGLC-MS/MS）首次对水样中的17种全氟化合物（PFASs）进行检测分析,结果表明,PFASs在拉萨普遍存在,拉萨河表层水中平均Σ₁₃ PFASs浓度为322pg/L,范围从60到1724pg/L.拉萨河PFASs的浓度水平低于其他大城市流域,但高于南北极表层水体.拉萨河中的主要化合物为全氟丁酸（PFBA）（25%）、全氟戊酸（PFPeA）（22%）、全氟辛酸（PFOA）（14%）、全氟辛烷磺酸（PFOS）（14%）和全氟丁烷磺酸（PFBS）（13%）.空间分布特征表明,拉萨河中全氟化合物的排放还存在一些点排放源,拉萨市产生的污水并未完全汇入到拉萨市污水处理厂中处理.基于PFBA和PFBS的全氟产品使用比较广泛,而基于PFOA和PFOS的全氟产品只在某些区域或行业有相对多的使用量或排量.PFASs在丰水期和枯水期的浓度水平和组成特征有显著的差异,拉萨全氟化合物产品的生产和使用模式受季节影响较大.污水处理厂是PFASs排放到拉萨河中的一个重要点源.污水处理厂每年排放到拉萨河中的全氟化合物约为37mg,拉萨河排放到雅鲁藏布江的物质荷载约为292t/a.在未来,所有的废水都应严格地纳入污水处理厂经达标处理后再排放.尽管PFOA和PFOS在拉萨的生产和使用进行了一定的转型,但是基于全氟化合物的产品的限制应进一步系统地执行和强有力地落实.     

城镇污水处理厂污水资源化调查与分析研究

根据渭河流域关中段污染状况及《(渭河流域水污染防治三年行动方案(2012-2014年)》实际需求,采用资料搜集、实地调查、问卷发放、数理统计等方式对该流域城镇污水处理厂污水资源化企业(工程)进行了调查与分析。同时,提出了污水资源化企业(工程)存在的若干问题,并结合该流域实际情况提出了若干措施,期望能对该流域中水回用事业的健康发展提供帮助并对其隶属课题(2011KTZB 03-03-03)的基础性内容提供直接技术支持。     

浑河沈阳段"十二五"水环境建设技术对策

历经近10年的综合整治,沈阳市的"母亲河"-浑河已发生巨大变化,污水的收集与处理、两岸与河道建设以及河流功能修复等方面取得显著成果和效益,但距生态城市建设和河流水质目标的要求尚存在较大差距和诸多需要进一步解决的问题,本文将据此分析探讨其水环境建设主要任务、技术对策以及主要对策实施途径,为浑河沈阳段水系"十二五"建设提供...     

北运河沉积物中氨氧化微生物的群落特征

采用T-RFLP、RT-qPCR和克隆测序等分子生物学技术,以氨单加氧酶基因(amoA)为分子标记,研究了北运河表层沉积物中氨氧化古菌(AOA)和氨氧化细菌(AOB)的群落多样性、丰度、系统发育及其与环境因子的响应关系.结果表明,沉积物中AOB的群落多样性和丰度均高于AOA,是北运河沉积物中氨氧化过程的主要功能微生物.沉积物中氨氧化微生物群落结构沿干流和支流存在明显的空间分异,而AOA的种类组成空间差异较小;沉积物的氨氮(NH4+)和硝态氮(NO3﹣+NO2﹣)是影响氨氧化微生物群落特征的主要因子,AOB对环境变化的敏感性更高;AOA和AOB的amoA基因拷贝数分别为1.32×105~1.91×106copies/g、5.39×105~8.3×106copies/g.闸坝下游沉积物的氨氧化微生物丰度最高.系统发育分析表明,amoA基因序列多属于土壤/沉积物分支,较多AOB的克隆序列与土壤亚硝化螺菌属(Nitrosospira)的类群相似性可达98%.受污水处理厂退水的影响,部分amoA基因序列与污水处理厂废水和活性污泥中发现的类群同源性高.污染物质来源、支流汇入和闸坝拦截对河流沉积物氨氧化微生物的群落特征影响显著.