Presence of Microorganisms in Soil and Water

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Water".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 10453

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45E Street, 15-351 Białystok, Poland
Interests: influence of selected environmental contaminants on the functioning of microorganisms in soil (soil, microbacterial activity, heavy metal, pesticides, PAHs, bioremediation)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Białystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45E Street, 15-351 Białystok, Poland
Interests: cell culture in vitro; cancer cell lines; skin cells functioning; xenobiotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45E Street, 15-351 Białystok, Poland
Interests: use of molecular methods in assessing the quality of the natural environment, with particular emphasis on soil microbiome
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The presence of microorganisms is one of the determinants of soil and water quality, which also influences the processes occurring in them. An increase in the environmental pollution level and the possibility of the appearance of new substances of anthropogenic origin in the environment makes it necessary to monitor the changes that occur in aquatic and soil microorganisms. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach combining knowledge and experience from different fields, such as microbiology, biotechnology, environmental engineering, toxicology, environmental chemistry, hydrology, and bioinformatics should be implemented.

An important issue is the identification of biotic and abiotic factors influencing the microbial composition of soils and surface/groundwaters. Such biomonitoring provides spatial-temporal information on substance loads (pollutants, water/soil quality parameters, nutrients, chemical oxygen demand, etc.), as well as water/soil quality assessment and information provision for pollution mitigation and ecological sustainability. The cognition of the above issues necessitates the use of various analytical, statistical, and bioinformatics techniques to collect reliable results on the one hand and to analyze and process them properly on the other.

Therefore, this Special Issue is open to extensive review papers and innovative research studies on problems related to the identification and impact of pollutants affecting microbial biodiversity of soils and waters. Subject areas of the Special Issue include, but are not limited to:

  • Microorganisms in surface/groundwater and soil;
  • Sources of soil and water pollution;
  • Biomonitoring of pollution of water and soil environment;
  • Techniques for the analysis of occurrence, behavior, and transport of pollutants;
  • Methods of assessing biodiversity and species abundance;
  • Assessment of the impact of pollutants on microorganisms of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems;
  • Water quality and ecological risk assessment;
  • Ecohydrology.

Dr. Elżbieta Wołejko
Dr. Agata Jabłońska-Trypuć
Dr. Urszula Wydro
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomonitoring
  • water/soil contamination
  • microbacterial activity
  • analytical techniques
  • bioremediation
  • climate changes
  • ecotoxicology

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2997 KiB  
Article
Investigating Landfill Leachate Influence on Soil Microbial Biodiversity and Its Cytotoxicity
by Urszula Wydro, Elżbieta Wołejko, Gabriela Sokołowska, Jacek Leszczyński and Agata Jabłońska-Trypuć
Water 2022, 14(22), 3634; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14223634 - 11 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1861
Abstract
The most important problem related to the collection of waste in landfills is the presence of harmful substances contained in leachate resulting from the flow of atmospheric precipitation through the deposited waste, which may end up in the soil. As a result, the [...] Read more.
The most important problem related to the collection of waste in landfills is the presence of harmful substances contained in leachate resulting from the flow of atmospheric precipitation through the deposited waste, which may end up in the soil. As a result, the soil’s chemical degradation occurs, which may result in a change in the structure and activity of microorganisms. In addition, leachate can end up in groundwater that may be hazardous to human health. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of landfill leachate on selected physicochemical, biological and biochemical properties of soils. The cytotoxicity of soil filtrates (SF) in human cell lines and their effect on apoptosis were also analyzed. In the pot experiment, leachate was added to the soil in two doses: 50LL (50% of the N dose) and 100LL (100% of the N dose). Selected physicochemical properties, activity of enzymes, diversity of bacteria and fungi by the T-RFLP approach were determined in soil samples. As a result of the analyses, it was found that LL causes an increase in the activity of dehydrogenases and a decrease in β-glucosidase. In the soils treated with LL, bacterial T-RF (144) bp, (179) bp and (413) bp were specific, while fungal were T-RF (390) bp, (441) bp and (595) bp. Potentially cytotoxic effects of SF and reduction in apoptosis in neoplastic cells were found in in vitro tests. LL and SF are complex matrices with a variable composition, which means that their impact on the soil environment must be constantly monitored. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Presence of Microorganisms in Soil and Water)
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21 pages, 4814 KiB  
Article
The Role of the Catchment Area in Shaping Water Quality in the Lowland Springs of the Knyszyn Forest (NE Poland)
by Elżbieta Jekatierynczuk-Rudczyk, Piotr Zieliński, Katarzyna Puczko, Krzysztof Micun and Emilia Puczyłowska
Water 2022, 14(20), 3202; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14203202 - 11 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1665
Abstract
The Puszcza Knyszyńska springs are an important element of the environment, conditioning the high geo- and biodiversity in the region. These springs are layered outflows that drain the waters of the Quaternary level. More than 200 outflows have been cataloged, and 80 of [...] Read more.
The Puszcza Knyszyńska springs are an important element of the environment, conditioning the high geo- and biodiversity in the region. These springs are layered outflows that drain the waters of the Quaternary level. More than 200 outflows have been cataloged, and 80 of them have measured/estimated yields and analyses of their water qualities. During periods of low water levels, the discharge efficiency most often fluctuated within a range of 0.5–2.0 dm3·s–1. In light of the applicable legal standards, the tested waters were of excellent quality. They belonged to the two hydrochemical types HCO3-Ca and HCO3-Ca-Mg, indicating the Quaternary aquifer’s homogeneity in the post-glacial areas. Small concentrations of most of the chemical parameters of water were found in the forest springs. Larger transformations in the chemical composition of water occurred in the outflows located in agricultural land and rural areas. A characteristic feature of the chemical composition of the water in the region’s lowland springs was an increased concentration of biogenic compounds (nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon compounds), both organic and inorganic. The average concentration of dissolved organic carbon in the water of the lowland springs in summer exceeded 4 mg·dm−3. In some outflows, most often of a swamp nature or located in peat areas, the concentration of dissolved organic carbon even exceeded a dozen or so mg·dm−3. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Presence of Microorganisms in Soil and Water)
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Review

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27 pages, 1634 KiB  
Review
Soil Microbiome Study Based on DNA Extraction: A Review
by Urszula Wydro
Water 2022, 14(24), 3999; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14243999 - 08 Dec 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 8979
Abstract
In recent years, many different methods that allow for the analysis of the biodiversity and structure of the community of microorganisms inhabiting the soil environment have emerged. Many of these approaches are based on molecular methods including the study of genetic biodiversity based [...] Read more.
In recent years, many different methods that allow for the analysis of the biodiversity and structure of the community of microorganisms inhabiting the soil environment have emerged. Many of these approaches are based on molecular methods including the study of genetic biodiversity based on DNA and RNA analysis. They are superior to conventional methods because they do not rely on time-consuming laboratory in vitro cultures and biochemical analyses. Moreover, methods based on the analysis of genetic material are characterized by high sensitivity and repeatability. The abovementioned issues are the subject of many reviews. The novelty of this article is the summarization of the main aspects of soil biological research including genetic techniques, bioinformatics and statistical tools. This approach could be an introduction for scientists starting their work in the field of genetic soil analysis. Additionally, examples of the application of molecular methods in soil research are presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Presence of Microorganisms in Soil and Water)
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19 pages, 1778 KiB  
Review
Biomonitoring of Soil Contaminated with Herbicides
by Elżbieta Wołejko, Urszula Wydro, Joanna Irena Odziejewicz, Agata Koronkiewicz and Agata Jabłońska-Trypuć
Water 2022, 14(10), 1534; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14101534 - 11 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4393
Abstract
The state of environmental pollution is of random character, and it depends on climatic conditions, landforms, development and industrialization. It is estimated that in the last decade as many pollutants have been released into the environment as in the previous 70 years, and [...] Read more.
The state of environmental pollution is of random character, and it depends on climatic conditions, landforms, development and industrialization. It is estimated that in the last decade as many pollutants have been released into the environment as in the previous 70 years, and the pollution rate still increases. Many scientific reports indicate that, in addition to metals, pesticides are the most commonly detected compounds in the environment. This situation is mainly due to the irrational use of these chemicals by humans. Mostly, soil environment changes caused by the influence of pesticides can be determined by various chemical analyses, which require the use of sophisticated and expensive equipment. However, biological methods, such as those using microbiological activity and an abundance of microorganisms, e.g., organisms responsible for the cycle of organic matter and nutrients, tend to be neglected. For this reason, the aim of the present study is not only to assess the validity of other research studies that were performed based on the available literature but to compile methods and compare them, which allows for an in depth understanding of the complexity of soil processes following herbicide application by conducting comprehensive soil biomonitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Presence of Microorganisms in Soil and Water)
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