Effect of Co-contamination by PAHs and Heavy Metals on Bacterial Communities of Diesel Contaminated Soils of South Shetland Islands, Antarctica
Diesel oil is the main source of energy used in Antarctica. Since diesel is composed of toxic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals, it represents a constant threat to the organisms inhabiting this continent. In the present study, we characterized the chemical an...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:252b1a6b47fc49c6b1742cd0e124aa58 2023-05-15T13:51:22+02:00 Effect of Co-contamination by PAHs and Heavy Metals on Bacterial Communities of Diesel Contaminated Soils of South Shetland Islands, Antarctica Alejandro Gran-Scheuch Javiera Ramos-Zuñiga Edwar Fuentes Denisse Bravo José M. Pérez-Donoso 2020-11-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8111749 https://doaj.org/article/252b1a6b47fc49c6b1742cd0e124aa58 EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/11/1749 https://doaj.org/toc/2076-2607 doi:10.3390/microorganisms8111749 2076-2607 https://doaj.org/article/252b1a6b47fc49c6b1742cd0e124aa58 Microorganisms, Vol 8, Iss 1749, p 1749 (2020) Antarctica co-contamination microbial population PAHs cadmium PAH-degrading bacteria Biology (General) QH301-705.5 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8111749 2022-12-31T02:54:17Z Diesel oil is the main source of energy used in Antarctica. Since diesel is composed of toxic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals, it represents a constant threat to the organisms inhabiting this continent. In the present study, we characterized the chemical and biological parameters of diesel-exposed soils obtained from King George Island in Antarctica. Contaminated soils present PAH concentrations 1000 times higher than non-exposed soils. Some contaminated soil samples also exhibited high concentrations of cadmium and lead. A 16S metagenome analysis revealed the effect of co-contamination on bacterial communities. An increase in the relative abundance of bacteria known as PAH degraders or metal resistant was determined in co-contaminated soils. Accordingly, the soil containing higher amounts of PAHs exhibited increased dehydrogenase activity than control soils, suggesting that the microorganisms present can metabolize diesel. The inhibitory effect on soil metabolism produced by cadmium was lower in diesel-contaminated soils. Moreover, diesel-contaminated soils contain higher amounts of cultivable heterotrophic, cadmium-tolerant, and PAH-degrading bacteria than control soils. Obtained results indicate that diesel contamination at King George island has affected microbial communities, favoring the presence of microorganisms capable of utilizing PAHs as a carbon source, even in the presence of heavy metals. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica King George Island South Shetland Islands Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles King George Island South Shetland Islands Microorganisms 8 11 1749 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Antarctica co-contamination microbial population PAHs cadmium PAH-degrading bacteria Biology (General) QH301-705.5 |
spellingShingle |
Antarctica co-contamination microbial population PAHs cadmium PAH-degrading bacteria Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Alejandro Gran-Scheuch Javiera Ramos-Zuñiga Edwar Fuentes Denisse Bravo José M. Pérez-Donoso Effect of Co-contamination by PAHs and Heavy Metals on Bacterial Communities of Diesel Contaminated Soils of South Shetland Islands, Antarctica |
topic_facet |
Antarctica co-contamination microbial population PAHs cadmium PAH-degrading bacteria Biology (General) QH301-705.5 |
description |
Diesel oil is the main source of energy used in Antarctica. Since diesel is composed of toxic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals, it represents a constant threat to the organisms inhabiting this continent. In the present study, we characterized the chemical and biological parameters of diesel-exposed soils obtained from King George Island in Antarctica. Contaminated soils present PAH concentrations 1000 times higher than non-exposed soils. Some contaminated soil samples also exhibited high concentrations of cadmium and lead. A 16S metagenome analysis revealed the effect of co-contamination on bacterial communities. An increase in the relative abundance of bacteria known as PAH degraders or metal resistant was determined in co-contaminated soils. Accordingly, the soil containing higher amounts of PAHs exhibited increased dehydrogenase activity than control soils, suggesting that the microorganisms present can metabolize diesel. The inhibitory effect on soil metabolism produced by cadmium was lower in diesel-contaminated soils. Moreover, diesel-contaminated soils contain higher amounts of cultivable heterotrophic, cadmium-tolerant, and PAH-degrading bacteria than control soils. Obtained results indicate that diesel contamination at King George island has affected microbial communities, favoring the presence of microorganisms capable of utilizing PAHs as a carbon source, even in the presence of heavy metals. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Alejandro Gran-Scheuch Javiera Ramos-Zuñiga Edwar Fuentes Denisse Bravo José M. Pérez-Donoso |
author_facet |
Alejandro Gran-Scheuch Javiera Ramos-Zuñiga Edwar Fuentes Denisse Bravo José M. Pérez-Donoso |
author_sort |
Alejandro Gran-Scheuch |
title |
Effect of Co-contamination by PAHs and Heavy Metals on Bacterial Communities of Diesel Contaminated Soils of South Shetland Islands, Antarctica |
title_short |
Effect of Co-contamination by PAHs and Heavy Metals on Bacterial Communities of Diesel Contaminated Soils of South Shetland Islands, Antarctica |
title_full |
Effect of Co-contamination by PAHs and Heavy Metals on Bacterial Communities of Diesel Contaminated Soils of South Shetland Islands, Antarctica |
title_fullStr |
Effect of Co-contamination by PAHs and Heavy Metals on Bacterial Communities of Diesel Contaminated Soils of South Shetland Islands, Antarctica |
title_full_unstemmed |
Effect of Co-contamination by PAHs and Heavy Metals on Bacterial Communities of Diesel Contaminated Soils of South Shetland Islands, Antarctica |
title_sort |
effect of co-contamination by pahs and heavy metals on bacterial communities of diesel contaminated soils of south shetland islands, antarctica |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8111749 https://doaj.org/article/252b1a6b47fc49c6b1742cd0e124aa58 |
geographic |
King George Island South Shetland Islands |
geographic_facet |
King George Island South Shetland Islands |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica King George Island South Shetland Islands |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica King George Island South Shetland Islands |
op_source |
Microorganisms, Vol 8, Iss 1749, p 1749 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/11/1749 https://doaj.org/toc/2076-2607 doi:10.3390/microorganisms8111749 2076-2607 https://doaj.org/article/252b1a6b47fc49c6b1742cd0e124aa58 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8111749 |
container_title |
Microorganisms |
container_volume |
8 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
1749 |
_version_ |
1766255192199659520 |