Native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi respond to rehabilitation in iron ore mining areas from the Eastern Brazilian Amazon

• Published in: Pedobiologia Vol. 89; p. 150768
• Main Authors: Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Raquel Milagros, Kemmelmeier, Karl, Pedroso, Daniela de Fátima, Pinto, Flávio Araújo, dos Santos, Jessé Valentim, Gastauer, Markus, Caldeira, Cecílio Fróis, Ramos, Silvio Junior, Siqueira, Jose Oswaldo, Carneiro, Marco Aurélio Carbone
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier GmbH 01.11.2021
• Subjects: Amazonia; Arbuscular mycorrhiza; cation exchange capacity; community structure; Environmental recovery; glomalin; Iron ore deposit; organic matter; Soil properties; spores; texture; Tropical rainforest; vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae; Amazonia; Iron ore deposit; Environmental recovery; Soil properties; Arbuscular mycorrhiza; Tropical rainforest
• ISSN: 0031-4056; 1873-1511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pedobi.2021.150768

•Rehabilitation led to a recovery of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities and activity.•AM fungal communities approached those in reference areas as rehabilitation progressed.•As rehabilitation progressed, glomalin fractions approached levels found in reference areas.•Mycorrhizal variables were linked to soil pH, texture, organic matter and cation exchange. Rehabilitation of mining areas is a relevant and current subject, in which the response of microbial communities is an important evaluation tool regarding their progress. In this context, our study had the objective of evaluating the effect of rehabilitation on the community composition and activity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and their relation with main soil properties, in three iron ore mining sites from Serra Norte of Carajás in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon. For that, non-rehabilitated, rehabilitated, and reference areas within each site were evaluated for spore density and diversity, mycorrhizal colonization, glomalin contents, as well as soil chemical and physical attributes. In general, all mycorrhizal variables responded positively to the rehabilitation processes in the three mining sites. Over time, an increase of similarity of the mycorrhizal communities between rehabilitated and reference areas from each site was observed, as well as, a decrease of the easily extractable glomalin/total extractable glomalin ratio. High ratios of easily extractable glomalin/total extractable glomalin indicated high degree of disturbance and/or disequilibrium of ecosystems, whereas low ratios indicated their equilibrium and/or recovery. This relation can be an interesting parameter, easy to interpret and compare for assessing the degree of disturbance, equilibrium and/or recovery of environments, regardless of absolute values of these variables. Main soil properties related to mycorrhizal response were pH, texture, organic matter content, and cation exchange capacity. Briefly, our results showed the resilience of native mycorrhizal communities and the success of the rehabilitation actions carried out in this Amazonian region.