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A Comparison of Microbial Community Function and Structure in Rehabilitated Asbestos and Coal Discard Sites

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Abstract

Previous studies have made some progress with the use of microbial community properties as assessment criteria for rehabilitation success of post-mining areas. Currently, there is a need for reference ranges of specific properties in rehabilitated post-mining sites to make this approach more practical. The aim of this investigation was to compare assessment parameters indicative of microbial community function (enzymatic assays) and structure (phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis) in rehabilitated asbestos and coal discard sites and to establish ranges of minimum and maximum values for these parameters in both types of sites. The range established for dehydrogenase activity in coal discard sites was 24.3–339.5 μg INF g−1 2 h−1 and for asbestos 44.5–544.6 μg INF g−1 2 h−1. Ranges were also established for β-glucosidase, urease, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase. Complete PLFA profiles were determined and ranges established for major PLFA groups and ratios in both types of discard. From the PLFA profiles, viable microbial biomass was determined as 6,080–29,851 and 8,128–47,242 pmol g−1 dry weight for the coal and asbestos discard sites, respectively. While similar ranges were observed for both types of discard, a canonical correspondence analysis that accounts for functional and structural characteristics showed that sites clustered according to the origin of the samples.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the mining companies involved in this project for access to the rehabilitated sites. This research was performed with the financial support of the National Research Foundation, South Africa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa

    Sarina Claassens, Danica Liebenberg & Leon van Rensburg

  2. School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa

    Peet Jansen van Rensburg

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  1. Sarina Claassens
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  2. Peet Jansen van Rensburg
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  3. Danica Liebenberg
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  4. Leon van Rensburg
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Correspondence to Sarina Claassens.

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Claassens, S., Jansen van Rensburg, P., Liebenberg, D. et al. A Comparison of Microbial Community Function and Structure in Rehabilitated Asbestos and Coal Discard Sites. Water Air Soil Pollut 223, 1091–1100 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-0927-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-0927-1

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