Effects of acid drainage from abandoned coal mines on the microbial community of Shandi River sediment, Shanxi Province

Abstract The discharge of acid mine drainage from abandoned high sulfur (S) coal mines has caused serious pollution in the Shandi River, Yangquan, Shanxi Province. To determine impact long-term on microorganisms river, we collected river sediments a polluted tributary (Group P) and mainstream River R) to study bacterial diversity community composition. results showed that was seriously by mines, with pH value sediment being < 2.5, resulting low richness samples. Acidophillic Fe- S-metabolizing bacteria, such as Metallibacterium , Acidiphilium Acidithiobacillus, were dominant genera Group P samples, while R dominated neutral anaerobic iron-reducing bacteria Geothrix Geobacter . Results principal co-ordinates analysis (PCoA) revealed communities are significantly different between groups R, significant species mainly attributed phylum Proteobacteria Actinobacteria Acidobacteria distribution microbial is influenced pH, Fe Cd concentrations. Metallicactrium genus, negatively correlated ( 2 = ? 0.95) positively 0.99), affected heavy metals. This determined drainage, especially composition within sediment.