Microbial community changes induced by Managed Aquifer Recharge activities: linking hydrogeological and biological processes
<p>Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is a technique used worldwide to increase the availability of water resources. We study how MAR modifies microbial ecosystems and its implications for enhancing biodegradation processes to eventually improve groundwater quality. We compare soil and groundwater...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/23/139/2019/hess-23-139-2019.pdf |
| Summary: | <p>Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is a technique used worldwide to increase the
availability of water resources. We study how MAR modifies microbial
ecosystems and its implications for enhancing biodegradation processes to
eventually improve groundwater quality. We compare soil and groundwater
samples taken from a MAR facility located in NE Spain during recharge (with
the facility operating continuously for several months) and after 4 months
of no recharge. The study demonstrates a strong correlation between soil and
water microbial prints with respect to sampling location along the mapped
infiltration path. In particular, managed recharge practices disrupt
groundwater ecosystems by modifying diversity indices and the composition of
microbial communities, indicating that infiltration favors the growth of
certain populations. Analysis of the genetic profiles showed the presence of
nine different bacterial phyla in the facility, revealing high biological
diversity at the highest taxonomic range. In fact, the microbial population
patterns under recharge conditions agree with the intermediate disturbance
hypothesis (IDH). Moreover, DNA sequence analysis of excised denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) band patterns
revealed the existence of indicator species linked to MAR, most notably
<i>Dehalogenimonas sp.</i>, <i>Nitrospira sp.</i> and <i>Vogesella sp.</i>. Our real facility multidisciplinary study (hydrological, geochemical and
microbial), involving soil and groundwater samples, indicates that MAR is a
naturally based, passive and efficient technique with broad implications for
the biodegradation of pollutants dissolved in water.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1027-5606 1607-7938 |