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Changes in liquid water alter nutrient bioavailability and gas diffusion in frozen antarctic soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons
Author(s) -
Harvey Alexis Nadine,
Snape Ian,
Siciliano Steven Douglas
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.745
Subject(s) - soil water , bioremediation , environmental chemistry , chemistry , nutrient , hydrocarbon , contamination , bioavailability , petroleum , environmental science , soil science , ecology , bioinformatics , organic chemistry , biology
Bioremediation has been used to remediate petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC)‐contaminated sites in polar regions; however, limited knowledge exists in understanding how frozen conditions influence factors that regulate microbial activity. We hypothesized that increased liquid water (θ liquid ) would affect nutrient supply rates (NSR) and gas diffusion under frozen conditions. If true, management practices that increase θ liquid should also increase bioremediation in polar soils by reducing nutrient and oxygen limitations. Influence of θ liquid on NSR was determined using diesel‐contaminated soil (0–8,000 mg kg −1 ) from Casey Station, Antarctica. The θ liquid was altered between 0.007 and 0.035 cm 3 cm −3 by packing soil cores at different bulk densities. The nutrient supply rate of NH 4 +and NO 3 − , as well as gas diffusion coefficient, D s , were measured at two temperatures, 21°C and −5°C, to correct for bulk density effects. Freezing decreased NSR of both NH 4 +and NO 3 − , with θ liquid linked to nitrate and ammonia NSR in frozen soil. Similarly for D s , decreases due to freezing were much more pronounced in soils with low θ liquid compared to soils with higher θ liquid contents. Additional studies are needed to determine the relationship between degradation rates and θ liquid under frozen conditions. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:395–401. © 2011 SETAC