Microbial diversity of landslide soils assessed by RFLP and SSCP fingerprints

Occurrence of OCPs & PCBs and their effects on multitrophic biological communities in riparian groundwater of the Beiluo River, China

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) may exert adverse effects on human and ecosystem health. However, as an ecologically fragile zone with strong interaction between river and groundwater, the POPs pollution in the riparian zone has received little attention. The goal of this research is to examine the concentrations, spatial distribution, potential ecological risks, and biological effects of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the riparian groundwater of the Beiluo River, China. The results showed that the pollution level and ecological risk of OCPs in riparian groundwater of the Beiluo River were higher than PCBs. The presence of PCBs (Penta-CBs, Hexa-CBs) and CHLs, respectively, may have reduced the richness of bacteria (Firmicutes) and fungi (Ascomycota). Furthermore, the richness and Shannon's diversity index of algae (Chrysophyceae and Bacillariophyta) decreased, which could be linked to the presence of OCPs (DDTs, CHLs, DRINs), and PCBs (Penta-CBs, Hepta-CBs), while for metazoans (Arthropoda) the tendency was reversed, presumably as a result of SULPHs pollution. In the network analysis, core species belonging to bacteria (Proteobacteria), fungi (Ascomycota), and algae (Bacillariophyta) played essential roles in maintaining community function. Burkholderiaceae and Bradyrhizobium can be considered biological indicators of PCBs pollution in the Beiluo River. Note that the core species of interaction network, playing a fundamental role in community interactions, are strongly affected by POPs pollutants. This work provides insights into the functions of multitrophic biological communities in maintaining the stability of riparian ecosystems through the response of core species to riparian groundwater POPs contamination.

The role of soils in the regulation of hazards and extreme events

The frequency and intensity of natural hazards and extreme events has increased throughout the last century, resulting in adverse socioeconomic and ecological impacts worldwide. Key factors driving this increase include climate change, the growing world population, anthropogenic activities and ecosystem degradation. One ecologically focused approach that has shown potential towards the mitigation of these hazard events is the concept of nature's contributions to people (or NCP), which focuses on enhancing the material and non-material benefits of an ecosystem to reduce hazard vulnerability and enhance overall human well-being. Soils, in particular, have been identified as a key ecosystem component that may offer critical hazard regulating functionality. Thus, this review investigates the modulating role of soils in the regulation of natural hazards and extreme events, with a focus on floods, droughts, landslides and sand/dust storms, within the context of NCP. This article is part of the theme issue 'The role of soils in delivering Nature's Contributions to People'.

Draft Genome Assembly of Delftia acidovorans Type Strain 2167

The Delftia acidovorans 2167 (ATCC 15668, Delftia type strain) genome was sequenced into a 6-contig scaffolded assembly of 6.78-Mb. This environmental microbe, previously named to both the Comamonas and Pseudomonas genera, is an opportunistic pathogen and often the subject of phylogenetic placement debates.