Salt marsh plant-microorganism interaction in the presence of mixed contamination

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Mucha, AP (Author) Other; Marisa M R Almeida (Author) FCUP; Magalhaes, CM (Author) Other; Vasconcelos, MTSD (Author) Other; Adriano Bordalo (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation

Vol. 65

Pages: 326-333

ISSN: 0964-8305

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 20 Citations

Scopus - 22 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-TN6

DOI: 10.1016/j.ibiod.2010.12.005

Abstract (EN): In this study we investigated under laboratory conditions, the combined effect of the presence of two contaminants (Cu and PAHs) and plants (Halimione portulacoides) on a salt marsh microbial community, in terms of genetic structure, abundance and capacity to remove those contaminants. Plants changed the microbial community structure (evaluated by ARISA), but only in the treatments without PAHs. Also, in the presence of plants, Cu displayed lower toxicity (ToxScreen test) than in its absence. Nevertheless, the presence of plants interfered with the degradation (decreasing it up to 45%) of higher molecular weight PAHs by sediment microorganisms. This was in agreement with the lower microbial numbers (quantified by DAPI) observed in the presence of the plants, pointing for a competition between plants and microorganisms for nutrients. These results are new for salt marshes, and highlight the need for fertilization in order to obtain optimal effects of rhizoremediation for this type of compounds.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8