| Title | Microbiological indicators to evaluate ecosystem soil quality and its changes in diversity and functioning. |
| Abstract | Soil quality represents an integral value of the compositional structures and natural functions of soil in
relation to soil use and environmental conditions on site. Among the main soil components, different
organisms and in particular microorganisms play a key role in ecologically biogeochemical processes. In
this way, soil microorganisms contribute to the maintenance of the matter and energy transfer in
terrestrial environments. Under anthropogenic stress conditions such as intensive agriculture and
diffusion of pollutants, biochemical activities of soil microorganisms can be differently affected. Several
microbiologically-related parameters contribute to provide an ecological evaluation of soil state
therefore, they can be considered as indicators of soil quality.
In this regard, we report some preliminary results of a Research Project dealing with three sites, located
close to Taranto City, in the South of Apulia Region (Italy), affected by land degradation processes such
as soil organic matter decline and/or organic (PCB) and inorganic contamination. Soil samples were
collected and both chemical and microbial analyses were performed in order to evaluate the quality of
the soils and to compare the three sites.
For this purpose, the main physico-chemical soil characteristics (organic carbon, available phosphorous,
total nitrogen, carbonate and water content, texture and pH) were determined. Moreover, some
samples have been analysed by GC-MS and ICP-MS in order to identify organic (PCB) and inorganic
(e.g. Pb, Se, Sn, Zn) contaminants, respectively. Finally, the structure and functioning of the bacterial
community was studied by evaluating the bacterial abundance (DAPI counts), the cell viability
(Live/Dead method), the dehydrogenase activity (DHA), and the Microbial Community Composition by
Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH). The overall results showed that the bacterial structure and
functioning were affected in different way by the organic carbon availability and contaminant occurrence
(organic or inorganic compounds), showing how land degradation processes can affect ecosystem soil
biodiversity and functioning. |
| Source | 17th International Symposium on Environmental Pollution and its Impact on Life in the Mediterranean Region - MESAEP, Istanbul, 28th Sept -1 Oct 2013 |
| Year | 2013 |
| Type | Abstract in atti di convegno |
| Authors | Valeria Ancona, Anna Barra Caracciolo, Martina Di Lenola, Paola Grenni, Vito Felice Uricchio, Angelantonio Calabrese |
| Text | 299987 2013 Microbiological indicators to evaluate ecosystem soil quality and its changes in diversity and functioning. Valeria Ancona, Anna Barra Caracciolo, Martina Di Lenola, Paola Grenni, Vito Felice Uricchio, Angelantonio Calabrese Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque 17th International Symposium on Environmental Pollution and its Impact on Life in the Mediterranean Region MESAEP Istanbul 28th Sept 1 Oct 2013 Internazionale Contributo Soil quality represents an integral value of the compositional structures and natural functions of soil in relation to soil use and environmental conditions on site. Among the main soil components, different organisms and in particular microorganisms play a key role in ecologically biogeochemical processes. In this way, soil microorganisms contribute to the maintenance of the matter and energy transfer in terrestrial environments. Under anthropogenic stress conditions such as intensive agriculture and diffusion of pollutants, biochemical activities of soil microorganisms can be differently affected. Several microbiologically related parameters contribute to provide an ecological evaluation of soil state therefore, they can be considered as indicators of soil quality. In this regard, we report some preliminary results of a Research Project dealing with three sites, located close to Taranto City, in the South of Apulia Region Italy , affected by land degradation processes such as soil organic matter decline and/or organic PCB and inorganic contamination. Soil samples were collected and both chemical and microbial analyses were performed in order to evaluate the quality of the soils and to compare the three sites. For this purpose, the main physico chemical soil characteristics organic carbon, available phosphorous, total nitrogen, carbonate and water content, texture and pH were determined. Moreover, some samples have been analysed by GC MS and ICP MS in order to identify organic PCB and inorganic e.g. Pb, Se, Sn, Zn contaminants, respectively. Finally, the structure and functioning of the bacterial community was studied by evaluating the bacterial abundance DAPI counts , the cell viability Live/Dead method , the dehydrogenase activity DHA , and the Microbial Community Composition by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization FISH . The overall results showed that the bacterial structure and functioning were affected in different way by the organic carbon availability and contaminant occurrence organic or inorganic compounds , showing how land degradation processes can affect ecosystem soil biodiversity and functioning. Abstract in atti di convegno angelantonio.calabrese CALABRESE ANGELANTONIO vitofelice.uricchio URICCHIO VITO FELICE anna.barracaracciolo BARRA CARACCIOLO ANNA paola.grenni GRENNI PAOLA valeria.ancona ANCONA VALERIA |
