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Bacterial Community Structure and Function along a Heavy Metal Gradient.

Deborah Dean-Ross¹, Aaron L Mills

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805-1499, and Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology

|August 1, 1989

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Heavy metal pollution did not affect bacterial numbers, activity, or diversity in river communities. High river pH reduced metal toxicity, explaining the lack of correlation between metal concentrations and bacterial resistance.

Area of Science:

Environmental microbiology
Ecotoxicology

Background:

Polluted rivers often exhibit high concentrations of heavy metals.
Bacterial communities play crucial roles in aquatic ecosystem functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of increasing heavy metal concentrations on planktonic, sediment, and epilithic bacterial communities in a polluted river.
To determine if bacterial numbers, activity, diversity, or metal resistance are affected by heavy metal pollution.

Main Methods:

Assessing bacterial numbers (viable and total) and heterotrophic activity.
Evaluating resistance to lead (Pb) and copper (Cu).
Determining species diversity using Shannon-Wiener diversity index and rarefaction.

Main Results:

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No pollution-related effects were observed on bacterial numbers, heterotrophic activity, or species diversity across the three communities.
A lack of correlation between heavy metal concentrations and bacterial resistance was noted, particularly in sediment communities.
High river pH was identified as a factor reducing heavy metal toxicity, influencing resistance patterns.

Conclusions:

Bacterial communities in this polluted river showed resilience to heavy metal contamination under prevailing high pH conditions.
Functional profiles of bacterial communities varied, indicating distinct adaptations despite the absence of direct pollution effects.
Further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of heavy metal pollution and high pH on aquatic microbial ecosystems.