2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
6/08/2017 | 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM | IMPACT OF COAL MINE DRAINAGE ON STREAM MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHERN WV | 305B
IMPACT OF COAL MINE DRAINAGE ON STREAM MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHERN WV
We examined the impact of acid- and alkaline-mine drainage resulting from coal mining on the taxonomic and metabolic diversity of the microbial community in headwater streams in southern WV. Water samples were collected from six unimpaired streams, six streams impaired by alkaline-mine drainage, and five streams impacted by acid-mine drainage. Alkaline-mine drainage sites had elevated levels of alkalinity and sulfate. Acid-mine drainage sites had elevated sulfate and heavy metal concentrations with a pH below 5. The taxonomic composition of the microbial communities was examined using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). Preliminary analysis showed that the number of bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was lower at sites impaired by alkaline-mine drainage, while the number of fungal OTUs was lower at acid-mine drainage sites. Multivariate analyses showed distinct clustering of the three site types for the bacterial community, but not for the fungal community. The overall metabolic activity and diversity of carbon sources (BIOLOG EcoPlates) utilized by bacteria was lower for alkaline-mine sites compared to unimpaired and acid-mine sites. Alteration of stream microbial communities may influence the breakdown of plant biomass.
- C11 Community Ecology
- C22 Disturbance
- C04 Microbial Ecology
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Presenters/Authors
Thomas Ford
(), Concord University (Athens, WV), tford@concord.edu;
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