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Effect of mining activities on the rhizosphere soil bacteria of seven plants in the iron ore area

Summary

Iron ore mining damages soil and contaminates it with heavy metals, disrupting the beneficial bacteria that live around plant roots. This study examined seven plants growing in a mining area and found that each plant attracted different types of bacteria to survive the harsh conditions. Some bacteria help plants resist metal toxicity through various mechanisms. Understanding which bacteria naturally thrive in contaminated soils could help restore degraded mining areas.

Background

Mining activities cause severe environmental degradation including vegetation destruction, soil disturbance, and heavy metal contamination. Soil microorganisms play crucial roles in ecosystem functions and biogeochemical processes. The rhizosphere serves as a key microbial hotspot connecting plants and soil for heavy metal tolerance.

Objective

To investigate the impact of iron ore mining on the diversity and composition of rhizosphere bacteria in seven plant species from the western Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. To examine variations in bacterial community structure across plant rhizosphere environments and identify the influential roles of environmental factors in community assembly.

Results

Mining activities significantly altered soil nutrient concentrations and enriched Fe and Cu while depleting alkaline nitrogen and available phosphorus. Microbial α-diversity was positively correlated with total nitrogen and organic carbon but negatively correlated with available potassium and heavy metals. Different plant species enriched distinct bacterial genera including Pseudarthrobacter, RB41, and others with specific stress adaptation capabilities.

Conclusion

Iron ore mining significantly impacts rhizosphere bacterial community diversity and composition through altered soil physicochemical properties. Different plants exhibit distinct responses in recruiting specific bacterial communities adapted to stress conditions. The identified bacterial taxa show potential as microbial indicators and candidates for ecological restoration strategies in mining-disturbed environments.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Observational Study,
  • Source: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1728759
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