Ant nests as a microbial hot spots in a long-term heavy metal-contaminated soils.

ABSTRACT: Interactions between soil fauna and soil microorganisms are not fully recognized, especially in extreme environments, such as long-term metal-polluted soils. The purpose of the study was to assess how the presence of Lasius niger ants affected soil microbial characteristics in a long-term metal-polluted area (Upper Silesia in Poland). Paired soil samples were taken from bulk soil and from ant nests and analysed for a range of soil physicochemical properties, including metal content (zinc, cadmium, and lead). Microbial analysis included soil microbial activity (soil respiration rate), microbial biomass (substrate-induced respiration rate), and bacteria catabolic properties (Biolog^® ECO plates). Soil collected from ant nests was drier and was characterized by a lower content of or

SUBMITTER: Klimek B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8783854 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature