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Community assembly and microbial interactions in an alkaline vanadium tailing pond
Han Zhang1, Song Wang2, Ziqi Liu2
1State Key Laboratory of Vanadium and Titanium Resources Comprehensive Utilization, Panzhihua, 617000, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China; School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China.
Vanadium mining releases toxic vanadium (V) into the environment. This study reveals how microbial communities adapt to V contamination in alkaline mine tailings, identifying key drivers and microbial functions for sustainable waste management.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Geochemistry
- Biogeochemical cycling
Background:
- Vanadium-titanium mining causes significant environmental vanadium (V) discharge, posing risks to ecosystems and health.
- Microorganisms are crucial for vanadium cycling, but their community dynamics in alkaline, nutrient-poor tailings are poorly understood.
- Assessing microbial community responses to vanadium exposure is vital for understanding environmental threats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the microbial community structure and function in a wet vanadium tailing pond.
- To identify the key environmental factors driving microbial community variation in response to vanadium contamination.
- To understand microbial adaptation strategies in alkaline vanadium-rich mine waste.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of vanadium and physicochemical parameters (pH) in water and sediment tailings.
- Characterization of microbial community composition and diversity using molecular techniques.
- Exploration of microbial functional potentials related to metal resistance, nitrogen metabolism, and carbon fixation.
- Investigation of microbial community assembly processes (stochastic vs. deterministic) and co-occurrence network patterns.
Main Results:
- High vanadium concentrations were found in both water (0.60 mg/L) and sediment tailings (340 mg/kg).
- Distinct microbial community patterns were observed, correlating with environmental parameters.
- Key genera involved in metal reduction/resistance, nitrogen metabolism, and carbon fixation were identified.
- Vanadium and pH were identified as major drivers of microbial community variation, especially for functional bacteria.
- Stochastic processes dominated microbial assembly in water, while deterministic processes governed sediment tailings.
- Sediment communities exhibited strong selective pressures and complex co-occurrence networks, indicating competition for resources.
Conclusions:
- Microbial communities in alkaline vanadium tailing ponds exhibit unique adaptation patterns to high vanadium levels and nutrient-poor conditions.
- Vanadium and pH significantly shape microbial community structure and function, influencing adaptation strategies.
- Understanding microbial assembly processes and functional potentials provides insights for mitigating the environmental impact of vanadium mining waste.
