Correlation between bacterial abundance, soil properties and heavy metal contamination in the area of non-ferrous metal processing plant, Southern Bulgaria

By

Nikolova, Radina
Petkova, Michaella
Dinev, Nikolai
Kenarova, Anelia
Boteva, Silvena
Berov, Dimitar
Radeva, Galina

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022-4-21

Original Publication

BioRisk : biodiversity & ecosystem risk assessment

Volume

17

Pages

19--30

Subjects

16S rRNA gene , Bacterial abundance , heavy metals , soil contamination , soil properties

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/biorisk.17.77458

 

Abstract

In the present study, the correlation between bacterial abundance and soil physicochemical properties along the heavy metal contamination gradient in the area of non-ferrous metal processing plant was assessed. Our results showed that bacterial abundance (number of heterotrophic bacteria and number of 16S rRNA gene copies) decreased with 45–56% (CFU) and 54–87% (16S rRNA gene) along the Zn, Pb and Cd contamination gradient. The total bacterial abundance (16S rRNA gene) increased exponentially in contrast to the abundance of heterotrophic bacteria. The reduction of bacterial abundance in heavily contaminated soil indicated that the soil properties (soil pH, total organic carbon, inorganic ions, soil texture) could modify the effects of heavy metals and the response of microorganisms to that stress in long-term contaminated soils.