Micromorphological and Chemical Approaches to Understand Changes in Ecological Functions of Metal-Impacted Soils under Various Land Uses
We investigated the changes in faunal activities as measures of the ecological functions of soils impacted by potentially toxic metals (PTMs) under urban, industrial, agricultural, and natural uses. Concentrations and distributions of Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Fe were estimated by sequential chemical...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2011-01-01
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| Series: | Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/521329 |
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| author | J. A. Acosta S. Martinez-Martinez A. Faz J. M. Van Mourik J. M. Arocena |
| author_facet | J. A. Acosta S. Martinez-Martinez A. Faz J. M. Van Mourik J. M. Arocena |
| author_sort | J. A. Acosta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We investigated the changes in faunal activities as measures of the ecological functions of soils impacted by potentially toxic metals (PTMs) under urban, industrial, agricultural, and natural uses. Concentrations and distributions of Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Fe were estimated by sequential chemical extractions, while relicts and present faunal activities were studied by micromorphological analyses. Urban and natural lands were contaminated with Pb, Cd, and Zn. Microarthropods and fungi are observed to be active in the litter decomposition in natural, agricultural and urban lands which indicates that total concentration of PTMs in soils is not a good indicator to evaluate the limitations of PTMs to fauna activity. Metals immobilization on carbonates and Fe/Mn oxides, and fertilizations reduced the negative effects of metals on faunal activity. Micromorphological analyses showed the impacts of metal on soil ecological functions in industrial site, where the surface soils are devoid of any evidence of faunal activity; likely due to high proportion of Pb and Zn in organic components. Therefore, the impacts of metals in soil fauna activities, hence ecological functions of soils, are best evaluated by the knowledge of metal partitioning on solid phases in combination with observations of fauna activities using micromorphological techniques. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-84f2ba9c8a0642ee83a22e5a8c43acc7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-7667 1687-7675 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-84f2ba9c8a0642ee83a22e5a8c43acc72025-02-03T06:12:22ZengWileyApplied and Environmental Soil Science1687-76671687-76752011-01-01201110.1155/2011/521329521329Micromorphological and Chemical Approaches to Understand Changes in Ecological Functions of Metal-Impacted Soils under Various Land UsesJ. A. Acosta0S. Martinez-Martinez1A. Faz2J. M. Van Mourik3J. M. Arocena4Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WV, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsSustainable Use, Management and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 52, 30203 Cartagena, Murcia, SpainSustainable Use, Management and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 52, 30203 Cartagena, Murcia, SpainInstitute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WV, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsCanada Research Chair in Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9, CanadaWe investigated the changes in faunal activities as measures of the ecological functions of soils impacted by potentially toxic metals (PTMs) under urban, industrial, agricultural, and natural uses. Concentrations and distributions of Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Fe were estimated by sequential chemical extractions, while relicts and present faunal activities were studied by micromorphological analyses. Urban and natural lands were contaminated with Pb, Cd, and Zn. Microarthropods and fungi are observed to be active in the litter decomposition in natural, agricultural and urban lands which indicates that total concentration of PTMs in soils is not a good indicator to evaluate the limitations of PTMs to fauna activity. Metals immobilization on carbonates and Fe/Mn oxides, and fertilizations reduced the negative effects of metals on faunal activity. Micromorphological analyses showed the impacts of metal on soil ecological functions in industrial site, where the surface soils are devoid of any evidence of faunal activity; likely due to high proportion of Pb and Zn in organic components. Therefore, the impacts of metals in soil fauna activities, hence ecological functions of soils, are best evaluated by the knowledge of metal partitioning on solid phases in combination with observations of fauna activities using micromorphological techniques.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/521329 |
| spellingShingle | J. A. Acosta S. Martinez-Martinez A. Faz J. M. Van Mourik J. M. Arocena Micromorphological and Chemical Approaches to Understand Changes in Ecological Functions of Metal-Impacted Soils under Various Land Uses Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| title | Micromorphological and Chemical Approaches to Understand Changes in Ecological Functions of Metal-Impacted Soils under Various Land Uses |
| title_full | Micromorphological and Chemical Approaches to Understand Changes in Ecological Functions of Metal-Impacted Soils under Various Land Uses |
| title_fullStr | Micromorphological and Chemical Approaches to Understand Changes in Ecological Functions of Metal-Impacted Soils under Various Land Uses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Micromorphological and Chemical Approaches to Understand Changes in Ecological Functions of Metal-Impacted Soils under Various Land Uses |
| title_short | Micromorphological and Chemical Approaches to Understand Changes in Ecological Functions of Metal-Impacted Soils under Various Land Uses |
| title_sort | micromorphological and chemical approaches to understand changes in ecological functions of metal impacted soils under various land uses |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/521329 |
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