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Bacterial response to dynamic metal concentrations in the surface sediments of a solar saltern (Goa, India)

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Abstract

The Ribandar solar saltern, situated adjacent to the Mandovi estuary is influenced by the barge transport of ferromanganese ore to the Mormugao harbour (Arabian Sea). The current study focuses on the distribution of metals and related heterotrophic bacterial populations in the surface sediments (0–10 cm) of the Ribandar salterns (Goa, India) during the salt-making (January to May) and non salt-making seasons (August and November). The concentrations of heavy metals in the sediments ranged from 17.2 ± 2.8 to 26.3 ± 6.7 % Fe; 0.6 ± 0.2 to 0.9 ± 0.2 % Mn; 27.6 ± 7.3 to 51 ± 8.3 ppm Ni; 28.4 ± 8.9 to 35.2 ± 10.6 ppm Co; 44 ± 21.6 to 62.8 ± 23.6 ppm Zn; 0.1 ± 0.01 ppm Cd and 1.7 ± 0.1 to 2.6 ± 0.7 ppm Pb and were much higher than those reported at the same site in a previous study by Kerkar (2004). Hg concentrations were below detection limits. In general, computation of “geoaccumulation index” revealed the sediments as ‘uncontaminated to moderately contaminated’ with Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, Pb and Zn during the salt-making season. The abundance of metal-tolerant bacteria was comparatively restricted to the salt-making season and was higher than the non salt-making season. Fe-, Mn-, Ni-, Co- and Pb- (200 ppm) tolerant bacteria were retrieved and restricted to the surface sediments (0–5 cm), Cd and Fe being the two most regulatory elements governing bacterial populations in the non salt-making season. However, during the salt-making season, the concentration of Zn was found to be pivotal in regulating the counts of Fe-, Mn- and Ni-tolerant bacteria. In general, the strength of correlation of metals and microbes was higher in the non salt-making season as compared to the salt-making season. This would probably indicate metal-induced limitations in microbial populations in the non salt-making season and the absence of this effect during the salt-making season. In this study, we test the hypothesis that solar salterns behave as ecological sinks with a potential to transform native bacterial populations to metal-resistant strains, in relation to the dynamic changes in the surrounding metal concentrations.

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Acknowledgements

We thank H.O.D. Department of Biotechnology, Goa University and Shri Rasik Ravindra, Director, National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa, for providing the lab facilities and also Dr. Thamban Meloth (Programme Director, Laboratories) for his constant support. We also wish to express our thanks to Mr. Rupesh Kumar Sinha for assistance in the field work. Comments from the anonymous reviewer have enhanced the quality of the manuscript considerably.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, Goa, India

    Flory Pereira & Savita Kerkar

  2. National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Vasco da Gama, Goa, India

    K. P. Krishnan

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  1. Flory Pereira
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  2. Savita Kerkar
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  3. K. P. Krishnan
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Correspondence to Savita Kerkar.

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Pereira, F., Kerkar, S. & Krishnan, K.P. Bacterial response to dynamic metal concentrations in the surface sediments of a solar saltern (Goa, India). Environ Monit Assess 185, 3625–3636 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2814-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2814-7

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