Response of the Intertidal Microbial Community Structure and Metabolic Profiles to Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Exposure

Yinghai Wu, Xinyu Rong, Cuiya Zhang, Renduo Zhang, Tao He, Yunjun Yu, Zhuangming Zhao, Jing Yang and Rui Han
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Yinghai Wu: Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
Xinyu Rong: Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
Cuiya Zhang: Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
Renduo Zhang: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Tao He: South China Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
Yunjun Yu: South China Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
Zhuangming Zhao: South China Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
Jing Yang: South China Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
Rui Han: Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: The toxicity of nanomaterials to microorganisms is related to their dose and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the shifts in the microbial community structure and metabolic profiles and to evaluate the environmental factors in a laboratory scale intertidal wetland system exposed to zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Microbial assemblages were determined using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Community-level physiological profiles were determined using Biolog-ECO technology. Results showed Proteobacteria was the predominant (42.6%–55.8%) phylum across all the sediments, followed by Bacteroidetes (18.9%–29.0%). The genera Azoarcus , Maribacter , and Thauera were most frequently detected. At the studied concentrations (40 mg·L −1 , 80 mg·L −1 , 120 mg·L −1 ), ZnO NPs had obvious impacts on the activity of Proteobacteria . Adverse effects were particularly evident in sulfur and nitrogen cycling bacteria such as Sulfitobacter , unidentified _Nitrospiraceae , Thauera, and Azoarcus . The alpha diversity index of microbial community did not reflect stronger biological toxicity in the groups with high NP concentrations (80 mg·L −1 , 120 mg·L −1 ) than the group with low NP concentration (40 mg·L −1 ). The average well color development (AWCD) values of periodically submersed groups were higher than those of long-term submersed groups. The group with NP concentration (40 mg·L −1 ) had the lowest AWCD value; those of the groups with high NP concentrations (80 mg·L −1 , 120 mg·L −1 ) were slightly lower than that of the control group. The beta diversity showed that tidal activity shaped the similar microbial community among the periodically submerged groups, as well as the long-term submerged groups. The groups with high DO concentrations had higher diversity of the microbial community, better metabolic ability, and stronger resistance to ZnO NPs than the groups with a low DO concentration.

Keywords: intertidal zone; ZnO NPs; microbial distribution; carbon metabolism; sediment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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