Enhancing iron biogeochemical cycling for canga ecosystem restoration: insights from microbial stimuli.

Introduction: The microbial-induced restoration of ferruginous crusts (canga), which partially cover iron deposits and host unique ecosystems, is a promising alternative for reducing the environmental impacts of the iron mining industry. Methods: To investigate the potential of microbial action to accelerate the reduction and oxidation of iron in substrates rich in hematite and goethite, four different microbial treatments (water only as a control - W; culture medium only - MO; medium + microbial consortium - MI; medium + microbial consortium + soluble iron - MIC) were periodically applied to induce iron dissolution and subsequent precipitation. Except for W, all the treatments resulted in the formation of biocemented blocks. Results: MO and MI treatments resulted in significant goethite dissolution, followed by precipitation of iron oxyhydroxides and an iron sulfate phase, due to iron oxidation, in addition to the preservation of microfossils. In the MIC treatment, biofilms were identified, but with few mineralogical changes in the iron-rich particles, indicating less iron cycling compared to the MO or MI treatment. Regarding microbial diversity, iron-reducing families, such as Enterobacteriaceae, were found in all microbially treated substrates. Discussion: However, the presence of Bacillaceae indicates the importance of fermentative bacteria in accelerating the dissolution of iron minerals. The acceleration of iron cycling was also promoted by microorganisms that couple nitrate reduction with Fe(II) oxidation. These findings demonstrate a sustainable and streamlined opportunity for restoration in mining areas.

Deep-sea plastisphere: Long-term colonization by plastic-associated bacterial and archaeal communities in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean.

Marine plastic pollution is a global concern because of continuous release into the oceans over the last several decades. Although recent studies have made efforts to characterize the so-called plastisphere, or microbial community inhabiting plastic substrates, it is not clear whether the plastisphere is defined as a core community or as a random attachment of microbial cells. Likewise, little is known about the influence of the deep-sea environment on the plastisphere. In our experimental study, we evaluated the microbial colonization on polypropylene pellets and two types of plastic bags: regular high density polyethylene (HDPE) and HDPE with the oxo-biodegradable additive BDA. Gravel was used as control. Samples were deployed at three sites at 3300 m depth in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean and left for microbial colonization for 719 days. For microbial communities analysis, DNA was extracted from the biofilm on plastic and gravel substrates, and then the 16S rRNA was sequenced through the Illumina Miseq platform. Cultivation was performed to isolate strains from the plastic and gravel substrates. Substrate type strongly influenced the microbial composition and structure, while no difference between sites was detected. Although several taxa were shared among plastics, we observed some groups specific for each plastic substrate. These communities comprised taxa previously reported from both epipelagic zones and deep-sea benthic ecosystems. The core microbiome (microbial taxa shared by all plastic substrates) was exclusively composed by low abundance taxa, with some members well-described in the plastisphere and with known plastic-degradation capabilities. Additionally, we obtained bacterial strains that have been previously reported inhabiting plastic substrates and/or degrading hydrocarbon compounds, which corroborates our metabarcoding data and suggests the presence of microbial members potentially active and involved with degradation of these plastics in the deep sea.

Asymbiotic nitrogen fixation in the phyllosphere of the Amazon forest: Changing nitrogen cycle paradigms.

Biological nitrogen fixation is a key process for the maintenance of natural ecosystems productivity. In tropical forests, the contribution of asymbiotic nitrogen fixation (ANF) to the nitrogen (N) input has been underestimated, even though few studies have shown that ANF may be as important as symbiotic nitrogen fixation in such environments. The inputs and abiotic modulators of ANF in the Amazon forest are not completely understood. Here, we determined ANF rates and estimated the N inputs from ANF in the phyllosphere, litter and rhizospheric soil of nine tree species in the Amazon forest over time, including an extreme drought period induced by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. Our data showed that ANF rates in the phyllosphere were 2.8- and 17.6-fold higher than in the litter and rhizospheric soil, respectively, and was highly dependent on tree taxon. Sampling time was the major factor modulating ANF in all forest compartments. At the driest period, ANF rates were approximately 1.8-fold and 13.1-fold higher than at periods with higher rainfall, before and after the extreme drought period, respectively. Tree species was a key modulator of ANF in the phyllosphere, as well as N and Vanadium concentrations. Carbon, molybdenum and vanadium concentrations were significant modulators of ANF in the litter. Based on ANF rates at the three sampling times, we estimated that the N input in the Amazon forest through ANF in the phyllosphere, litter and rhizospheric soil, was between 0.459 and 0.714 kg N ha-1 yr-1. Our results highlight the importance of ANF in the phyllosphere for the N input in the Amazon forest, and suggest that changes in the patterns of ANF driven by large scale climatic events may impact total N inputs and likely alter forest productivity.

Cinza vegetal: características produtivas e teor de clorofila do capim-marandu / Vegetable ash: productive characteristics and chlorophyll in palisadegrass

O uso de cinza vegetal na agropecuária é uma prática que auxilia no manejo da fertilidade do solo, além de proporcionar destino ao resíduo sólido, o que contribui para preservação ambiental. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da cinza vegetal na produção e teor de clorofila do capim-marandu (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu). O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com seis tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram em doses de cinza vegetal: 0,00; 0,75; 1,50; 2,25; 3,00 e 3,75 g dm-3. Foram realizados dois cortes na parte aérea das plantas, sendo o primeiro 30 dias após o transplantio e o segundo 33 dias após o primeiro corte. As variáveis avaliadas foram: massa de parte aérea, de lâminas foliares, de colmo+bainha, de raízes, bem como a relação massa seca da parte aérea e massa seca de raízes, eficiência no uso de cinza vegetal e o teor de clorofila (determinação indireta pela leitura SPAD). No primeiro crescimento a produção do capim-marandu respondeu linearmente até a dose de cinza vegetal de 3,75 g dm-3. No segundo crescimento a maior produção do capim-marandu ocorreu entre as doses de cinza vegetal de 3,11 a 3,54 g dm-3. A cinza vegetal aumenta a produção e o teor de clorofila do capim-marandu.

The use of vegetable ash farming is practice that assists in the management of soil fertility, and provide target the solid residue, which contributes to environmental preservation. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the effect of vegetable ash in production and chlorophyll content of the palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design with six treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of doses of vegetable ash: 0.00, 0.75, 1.50, 2.25, 3.00 and 3.75 g dm-3. There were two cuts on the shoot, the first 30 days after transplanting and the second 33 days after the first cut. The variables evaluated were: shoot mass, leaf lamina, stem+sheath, root, and the ratio of shoot dry mass and root biomass, efficient use ash of plant and chlorophyll content (indirect determination by SPAD readings). At first growth the production of palisadegrass responded linearly to the dose of vegetal ash of 3.75 g dm-3. The second growth the largest production palisadegrass occurred between doses of ash from 3.11 to 3.54 g dm-3. The vegetable ash increases production and chlorophyll of palisadegrass.