Materiały konferencyjne SEP 2024

Szkoła Eksploatacji Podziemnej 2024, Materiały Konferencyjne Microbial structure and activity in Czech-Polish border mining heaps Martina Zapletalova Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University STRESZCZENIE: The project aims to analyze the activity and structure of microbial commu- nities in mining dumps on the Czech-Polish border in order to identify the key factors for eco- system restoration. This study includes the characterization of soil physiochemical properties as well as the analysis of microbial community biomass, structure and activity. Recent research indicates notable differences between microbial communities in mine dumps and those in natu- ral ecosystems, with the former having lower microbial biomass and diversity. These differen- ces are due to harsh environmental conditions, including elevated soil pH, limited nutrient availability and toxic metal concentrations that hinder microbial proliferation. In addition, the lack of nutrients in mine dumps has a detrimental effect on plant growth and complicates ef- forts to establish vegetation cover. By deepening our understanding of the relationships betwe- en plants and microbes in both natural and unconventional ecosystems, this research promises to have significant impact. The knowledge gained from this study can potentially inform the development of sustainable land management strategies aimed at enhancing ecosystem func- tions and promoting biodiversity conservation. SŁOWA KLUCZOWE: NGS, soil, heap, microbial community structure, microbial comunnity activity, novel ecosystem The relationships between plants and microbes play a crucial role in the functioning of ecosys- tems. Understanding them is essential for effective ecosystem management and restoration. However, their relationships in natural and novel ecosystems, such as mine dumps, are not ful- ly understood. The aim of this study is to analyze the activity and structure of microbial com- munities in mine dumps at the Czech-Polish border in order to identify key factors for ecosys- tem restoration. The objectives of the study are (1) to characterize the physiochemical proper- ties of the soil and (2) to analyze the biomass, structure and activity of microbial communities. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in understanding the role of microbial com- munities in plant-microbe interactions [1–3], particularly in the context of ecosystem restora- tion [4,5]. In natural ecosystems, plants and microorganisms have a mutually beneficial rela- tionship [6], in which plants provide carbon sources to microorganisms and, in return, microor- ganisms facilitate nutrient uptake and provide protection against pathogens [7]. However, in novel ecosystems such as mine dumps, this relationship is disrupted, leading to changes in the structure and activity of the microbial community [8], which in turn affects plant growth and ecosystem functioning [9]. Recent studies have shown that the microbial communities in mine dumps differ from those in natural ecosystems and have lower microbial biomass and diversity [10]. This is due to harsh