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Functional Diversity of Microorganisms in Heavy Metal-Polluted Soils

  • Chapter
Heavy Metal Contamination of Soils

Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 44))

Abstract

In this chapter, we summarize the results from studies designed to assess the impacts of heavy metal pollution on the physiology of soil microorganisms based on a variety of commercially available assays (Biolog and MicroResp) of community substrate use. The results and conclusions from these studies are contradictory, depending on the metal concentrations and speciation, local environmental characteristics, and finally the different interpretations by the authors of the actual levels of pollution. In general, low and moderate levels (according to the Nemerow index) of metal pollution do not affect carbon use ability and functional diversity of the impacted microbial communities, as opposed to high metal pollution levels where significant adverse effects are recorded as functional responses of microbial communities to metal stress. Microbial functional responses to metal stress were observed as reduced catabolic activity and functional diversity, preferential community shifts from one carbon substrate use to another, and/or increased pollution-induced community tolerance. Finally, the microbial responses are summarized in the context of the modifying effects of the local environment on metal toxicity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, 8 Dragan Tsankov Blvd., Sofia, 1164, Bulgaria

    Anelia Kenarova & Silvena Boteva

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  1. Anelia Kenarova
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  2. Silvena Boteva
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Correspondence to Anelia Kenarova .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Allgemeine Botanik und Pflanzenphysiologie, Universität Jena, Jena, Germany

    Irena Sherameti

  2. Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Ajit Varma

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Kenarova, A., Boteva, S. (2015). Functional Diversity of Microorganisms in Heavy Metal-Polluted Soils. In: Sherameti, I., Varma, A. (eds) Heavy Metal Contamination of Soils. Soil Biology, vol 44. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14526-6_13

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