The analysis of metals biotransformation by alpine nivicolous myxomycetes from substrates

Tetyana Kryvomaz,Alain Michaud,Olena Voloshkina,Irina Andrusishina

doi:10.15587/1729-4061.2016.79440

Abstract

The contents of 11 elements (Al, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Si, Zn) in the fruit bodies of 9 myxomycetes species collected in the French and Italian Alps were analyzed. The comparison of the elements concentrations in Diderma alpinum, D. fallax, D. globosum, Lamproderma arcyrioides, L. echinosporum, L. pseudomaculatum, Physarum alpestre, Ph. vernum, Trichia decipiens and substrates was made to determine the accumulative properties of myxomycetes. The highest concentration was found for Ca, Fe, and Mg in the fruit bodies of five species of myxomycetes. In most of the analyzed nivicolous myxomycetes species, the capacity for accumulation of highly toxic heavy metals Cd and Pb, as well as Zn in the three members of the genus Diderma was found. The tendency to accumulate moderately toxic heavy metal Cu was noted. The coefficient of transition of elements from substrates to myxomycetes in 8 % of specimens exceeded 100 units, in 25 % of samples had a К t value from 10 to 100, 45 % – from 1 to 10, and in 22 % of samples К t was less than one. It was found that micromycetes play a role of bioconcentrators, and their capacity for bioaccumulation is due to speciesspecific morphological and physiological characteristics and ecological features. The properties of the studied nivicolous myxomycetes to accumulate heavy metals can be used for bioindication and bioremediation of the environment.

Highlights

In recent decades metallomics is developing actively, it is an analytical scientific field which studies the content and functions of metals in biological systems [1]
This study showed the strongest relations between Trichia decipiens and Picea abies wood, as evidenced by the lowest levels of Кt
The results suggest that nivicolous myxomycetes have the ability to accumulate cadmium and moderate propensity to accumulation of lead, while zinc is the last in the gradation of average values of the transition coefficient Cu and Ni are considered to be moderately toxic heavy metals, what is more Cu is in a top of elements accumulation in this study, and Ni is in the third place

Summary

Introduction

In recent decades metallomics is developing actively, it is an analytical scientific field which studies the content and functions of metals in biological systems [1]. In the sphere of environmental safety there are studies about accumulation of heavy metals by plants [2], animals [3], fungi [4] and microbiological objects [5], but very little is known about the bioaccumulative properties of myxomycetes [6]. Whereas myxomycetes combine both fungi and protists features, they are common favorable objects for different modeling researches. In addition to bioindication and bioremediation potential, myxomycetes can help in discovering the mechanisms of resistance to unfavourable environmental conditions, especially it concerns nivicolous myxomycetes. For the sphere of the environmental safety, it is especially important to find out ways of heavy metals transformation in the environment, and myxomycetes are very convenient experimental organisms for realization of these tasks due to their special biological characteristics and widespread distribution

Literature review and problem statement

The purpose and objectives of the study

The analysis of elements in nivicolous myxomycetes and their substrates

Discussion of data about bioaccumulation capability of myxomycetes

Findings

Conclusions