The homeostasis of the microbial communities in soils polluted by heavy metals
Andreyuk, E.I.; Iutinskaya, G.A.; Petrusha, Z.V.
Mikrobiolohichnyi Zhurnal 61(6): 15-21
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0201-8462 PMID: 10733279 Document Number: 500157
A study was conducted on the homeostatic potential of microbial communities in soils contaminated by heavy metals. The use of indices characterizing homeostasis of the microbial community (i.e., microorganism survivability in contaminated soil and the period of restoration of their number, and sensitivity to certain contaminants) was proposed to estimate the effect of contaminants on the soil microflora. Results of model experiments on dark grey podzolized soil showed that contamination with heavy metals (Cu2+, Cd2+, Sr2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+) at doses of 2 and 4 times the maximum permissible concentrations provoked short-term inhibition of microorganism development, after which their number is restored. Introduction of a mixture of the metals evoked a more intense inhibition and extended the period of microorganism number restoration compared with certain metals introduced singly at the same doses.