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Liao K, Chen C, Ye W, Zhu J, Li Y, She S, Wang P, Tao Y, Lv A, Wang X, Chen L. The adaptability, distribution, ecological function and restoration application of biological soil crusts on metal tailings: A critical review. Sci Total Environ 2024; 927:172169. [PMID: 38582126 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
A large amount of metal tailings causes many environmental issues. Thus, the techniques for their ecological restoration have garnered extensive attention. However, they are still in the exploratory stage. Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are a coherent layer comprising photoautotrophic organisms, heterotrophic organisms and soil particles. They are crucial in global terrestrial ecosystems and play an equal importance in metal tailings. We summarized the existing knowledge on BSCs growing on metal tailings. The main photosynthetic organisms (cyanobacteria, eukaryotic algae, lichens, and mosses) of BSCs exhibit a high heavy metal(loid) (HM) tolerance. BSCs also have a strong adaptability to other adverse conditions in tailings, such as poor structure, acidification, and infertility. The literature about tailing BSCs has been rapidly increasing, particularly after 2022. The extensive literature confirms that the BSCs distributed on metal tailings, including all major types of metal tailings in different climatic regisions, are common. BSCs perform various ecological functions in tailings, including HM stress reduction, soil structure improvement, soil nutrient increase, biogeochemical cycle enhancement, and microbial community restoration. They interact and accelerate revegetation of tailings (at least in the temperate zone) and soil formation. Restoring tailings by accelerating/inducing BSC formation (e.g., resource augmentation and inoculation) has also attracted attention and achieved small-scale on-site application. However, some knowledge gaps still exist. The potential areas for further research include the relation between BSCs and HMs, large-scale quantification of tailing BSCs, application of emerging biological techniques, controlled laboratory experiments, and other restoration applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejun Liao
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Chaoqi Chen
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Wenyan Ye
- Lin'an Branch of Hangzhou Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Jing Zhu
- Lin'an Branch of Hangzhou Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Yan Li
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Sijia She
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Panpan Wang
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Yue Tao
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Ang Lv
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xinyue Wang
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Lanzhou Chen
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
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