Diatoms in Acid Mine Drainage and Their Role in the Formation of Iron-Rich Stromatolites

Brake, Sandra S.; Hasiotis, Stephen T.; Dannelly, H. Kathleen

doi:10.1080/01490450490454074

Cited by 40 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The following discussion focuses on benthic eukaryotes because of their potential impact on acidic environments and because increasing acidity tends to decrease planktonic production and increase benthic biomass (Müller 1980;Dixit and Smol 1989), which maybe why a significant volume of literature examines benthic species (e.g., Kapfer 1998;Verb and Vis 2000;López-Archilla et al 2001;Brake et al 2001bBrake et al , 2002Brake et al , 2004Sabater et al 2003;Baffico et al 2004;Aguilera et al 2006Aguilera et al , 2007aAguilera et al , b, 2008Brake and Hasiotis 2008). Table 2 lists frequently reported benthic eukaryotic species in aquatic environments measuring pH ≤ 3.5.…”

Section: Eukaryotic Diveristy and Biofilm Communitiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Recent research is beginning to establish a more important role for eukaryotic microorganisms in acidic environment. Brake et al (2004) and Brake and Hasiotis (2008), for example, have documented the potential role of eukaryote-dominated biofilms in trapping and binding sediment to form iron-rich organosedimentary structures-that is stromatolites-in acidic environments. In this article we explore the potential effect of such activities on acidic ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Eukaryote-Dominated Biofilms and Their Significance in Acidic Environments

Brake¹,

Hasiotis²

2010

Geomicrobiology Journal

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Biodiversity of benthic eukaryotic microorganisms in highly acidic (pH ≤ 3.5) aquatic environments is limited to species that have developed strategies to tolerate elevated concentrations of H + and dissolved metals and low nutrients levels that commonly characterize these environments. To survive adverse conditions, some algae, protozoa, and fungi have developed mechanisms to make their cell membranes impermeable to protons and maintain cytosolic pH at near neutral levels; others have developed a cell boundary mechanism that blocks H + ions from entering the cell. High concentrations of heavy metals are also toxic, adversely impacting growth by disrupting physiological, biochemical, or metabolic processes. Some algae, fungi, and protozoans are able to tolerate high metal concentrations via metal complexation outside the cell, extracellular binding and precipitation of metals, reduced metal uptake, increased metal efflux, and detoxification or compartmentalization of metals within the cell. In acidic environments, benthic eukaryotic microorganisms form biofilm communities in which they are the dominant members numerically and ecologically. Eukaryotedominated benthic communities produce heterogeneous microenvironments that vary spatially and temporally in their physicochemical character. The eukaryotes in these biofilms can be considered ecosystem engineers as they directly or indirectly modulate the availability of resources to other species within the biofilm. These eukaryote-dominated communities may play a significant role in mediating their environment by actively and passively contributing to metal attenuation through various processes of biosorption and via formation of laminated organosedimentary structures, which may be used as analogs for similar structures in the rock record.

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Section: Eukaryotic Diveristy and Biofilm Communitiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Eukaryote-Dominated Biofilms and Their Significance in Acidic Environments

Brake¹,

Hasiotis²

2010

Geomicrobiology Journal

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“…Stream water pH and ANC were important determinants of diatom species composition in another study of MAHA streams . Acid mine drainage affects approximately 4% of the streams in the MAHA region (US EPA, 2000) and has been shown to have profound effects on stream periphyton communities (Verb & Vis, 2000;Brake et al, 2004). For most common taxa, RT illustrated that TP is only an important variable under circumneutral to alkaline conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Using change-point analysis and weighted averaging approaches to explore the relationships between common benthic diatoms and in-stream environmental variables in mid-atlantic highlands streams, USA

Weilhoefer

Pan

2008

Hydrobiologia

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Diatoms are increasingly being used in the bioassessment of aquatic systems. However, autecological information for many common taxa is incomplete. We explored the potential of classification (CT) and regression tree (RT) approaches to identify the hierarchical interaction among water quality variables in predicting the relative abundance of ten common stream diatom taxa in the MidAtlantic Highlands ecoregion. RT analysis was also used to identify environmental change points corresponding to major shifts in species abundances. We also used traditional weighted-averaging approaches (WA) to model taxon pH and total phosphorus (TP) optima. RT and WA approaches provided different, yet complementary, information on the complex relationships between common stream diatoms and environmental variables. Both RT and CT highlighted the interaction of stream acidity (pH, acid neutralizing capacity (ANC)), and TP in structuring the stream diatom assemblage. For the RT of taxa, where pH was an important predictor, higher pH predicted higher relative abundances. In contrast, higher TP predicted lower relative abundances for some diatom taxa (e.g., Achnanthidium minutissimum (Kütz.) Czarnecki), while predicting higher relative abundances for other taxa (e.g., Planothidium lanceolatum (Bréb.) Round & Bukht., Gomphonema parvulum (Kütz.) Kütz.). The environmental change point for pH derived from RT analysis was lower than WA optima for all species. We suggest that RT change point analysis can be used to complement traditional WA optima approaches, especially when diatom taxa's abundances are affected by interactive environmental factors, to provide more refined information on stream diatom environmental preferences.

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“…Optimum metal removal and productivity also vary with season (Elbaz-Poulichet et al 2000;Brake et al 2004). Metal uptake by biofilm in acidic condition substantially lower than neutral condition .…”

Section: Metal Adsorption and Absorptionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Eukaryotes in acidic mine drainage environments: potential applications in bioremediation

Das

Roy

Singh

et al. 2009

Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol

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Passive remediation of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is a popular technology continuously under development for more than 50 years now. Roles of eukaryotes, the natural residents of AMD and its attenuator are not emphasized adequately. Studies suggest that macrophyte distinctively generate alkalinity through benthic sediments as part of root respiration. Other eukaryotic populations effectively enrich the carbon source for maintaining sulphate reducing bacterial (SRB) populations and act symbiotically. Algae produce anoxic zones for SRB action and help in biogenic alkalinity generation. While studies on algal populations and actions are relatively available those on fungal population are limited. Fungi show capacity to absorb significant amount of metals in their cell wall, or by extra cellular polysaccharide slime. This review examines the roles of these microorganisms and documents their activities in holistic form in the mine water environment. This work discusses the potential areas of likely future research that could enable AMD remediation using active eukaryotes to be made on sound understanding.

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Diatoms in Acid Mine Drainage and Their Role in the Formation of Iron-Rich Stromatolites

Cited by 40 publications

References 38 publications

Eukaryote-Dominated Biofilms and Their Significance in Acidic Environments

Eukaryote-Dominated Biofilms and Their Significance in Acidic Environments

Using change-point analysis and weighted averaging approaches to explore the relationships between common benthic diatoms and in-stream environmental variables in mid-atlantic highlands streams, USA

Eukaryotes in acidic mine drainage environments: potential applications in bioremediation

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