cadmium effects on soil microbial indices and on the interaction of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (amf) and as well on plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (pgpr) were investigated. the experiments were performed in the framework of a factorial design with levels of cadmium (0, 10, 30 and 100 mg kg-1 soil), and microbial inoculations (control, pgpr and amf) employing russian kanapweed as the expe...

Despite the recent and significant increase in the study of aquatic microbial communities, little is known about the microbial diversity of complex ecosystems such as running waters. This study investigated the biodiversity of biofilm communities formed in a river with 454 Sequencing™. This river has the particularity of integrating both organic and microbiological pollution, as receiver of agr...

The continuous use of fuels like petroleum is recognized as unsustainable because of their natural exhaustion and contribution to the pollution in the environment. Not only for the environmental perspective but also for the economic sustainability, we necessarily need to develop alternative, renewable and pollution free fuels. Harvesting energy from the sun (solar energy), earth (geothermal ene...

The increasing number of polluted watersheds and water bodies with total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) has resulted in increased research to find methods that effectively and universally identify fecal pollution sources. A fundamental requirement to identify such methods is understanding the microbial and chemical processes that influence fate and transport of fecal indicators from various source...

The rumen is arguably the most important organ in the ruminant digestive system. Ruminal microbial protein and volatile fatty acid (VFA) synthesis supply most of the protein and energy needs of the ruminant. Rumen function problems can reduce intake, digestion, and health of ruminants and culminate in death. Furthermore, inefficient rumen function reduces animal performance and health and contr...

Petroleum products play a major role in fueling the economy of the world but the pollution they create has become a critical issue. Understanding the diversity present in pipeline muck will help with the exploration of new microbial strains with better hydrocarbon degrading capacities for bioremediation of polluted sites. This study provides an analysis of petroleum muck using next generation s...

Enzymatic and microbial electrochemical systems (MESs) utilize the ability of biological components— enzymes and microbes—to catalyze an oxidation or reduction reaction at solid-state electrodes. A commonly known system is the microbial fuel cell in which electricity is produced via the microbially catalyzed oxidation of organic matter. The electrochemical systems that are discussed have a wide...

The effect of crude oil on the growth of legumes (Calopogonium muconoides and Centrosema pubescens) and fate of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in wetland ultisol was investigated using standard cultural techniques. The results revealed observable effects of oil on soil physico-chemistry, plant growth and nodulation as well as on densities of heterotrophic, hydrocarbonoclastic and nitrogen fixing bact...