Open AccessMicrobial community potentially responsible for acid and metal release from an Ostrobothnian acid sulfate soil
Author(s) -
Wu Xiaofen,
Wong Zhen Lim,
Sten Pekka,
Engblom Sten,
Österholm Peter,
Dopson Mark
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/1574-6941.12084
Subject(s) - sulfate , microorganism , environmental chemistry , sulfide , pyrite , biology , sulfur , soil microbiology , metal , sulfur cycle , acid mine drainage , bacteria , soil water , ecology , chemistry , mineralogy , organic chemistry , genetics
Soils containing an approximately equal mixture of metastable iron sulfides and pyrite occur in the boreal Ostrobothnian coastal region of Finland, termed ‘potential acid sulfate soil materials’. If the iron sulfides are exposed to air, oxidation reactions result in acid and metal release to the environment that can cause severe damage. Despite that acidophilic microorganisms catalyze acid and metal release from sulfide minerals, the microbiology of acid sulfate soil ( ASS ) materials has been neglected. The molecular phylogeny of a depth profile through the plough and oxidized ASS layers identified several known acidophilic microorganisms and environmental clones previously identified from acid‐ and metal‐contaminated environments. In addition, several of the 16 S r RNA gene sequences were more similar to sequences previously identified from cold environments. Leaching of the metastable iron sulfides and pyrite with an ASS microbial enrichment culture incubated at low p H accelerated metal release, suggesting microorganisms capable of catalyzing metal sulfide oxidation were present. The 16 S r RNA gene analysis showed the presence of species similar to A cidocella sp. and other clones identified from acid mine environments. These data support that acid and metal release from ASS s was catalyzed by indigenous microorganisms adapted to low pH .