Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have become ubiquitous environmental contaminants, particularly in mangrove wetlands. However, little is known about the long-term effect of mangrove plants on PBDE removal from contaminated sediments. A 12-month microcosm experiment was conducted to understand the effect of two mangrove species, namely Avicennia marina (Am) and Aegiceras corniculatum (Ac), on PBDE removal from the sediments spiked with 2000ngg−1 dry weight of BDE-47, and to explore the microbial mechanism responsible for the planting-induced effects on BDE-47 removal. Results showed that planting of mangrove species, either Am or Ac, could accelerate BDE-47 removal from contaminated sediments during the 12months experiment, mainly through enhancing microbial degradation process. In particular, Am sediment had significantly higher BDE-47 degradation efficiency compared with Ac sediment, which may be mainly attributed to higher activities of urease and dehydrogenase, as well as higher 16S rRNA gene copies of total bacteria and organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB) in Am sediment. Moreover, planting could shift sediment bacterial community composition and selectively enrich some bacterial genera responsible for PBDE degradation. Such selective enrichment effect of Am on the potential PBDE-degrading bacteria differed distinctly from that of Ac. These results indicated that long-term planting of mangrove species, especially Am, could significantly promote BDE-47 removal from the contaminated sediments by enhancing microbial activity, increasing total bacterial and OHRB abundances and altering bacterial community composition.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.