title: Restoration of a Mediterranean forest after a fire: bioremediation and rhizoremediation field-scale trial.
abstract: Forest fires pose a serious threat to countries in the Mediterranean basin, often razing large areas of land each year. After fires, soils are more likely to erode and resilience is inhibited in part by the toxic aromatic hydrocarbons produced during the combustion of cellulose and lignins. In this study, we explored the use of bioremediation and rhizoremediation techniques for soil restoration in a field-scale trial in a protected Mediterranean ecosystem after a controlled fire. Our bioremediation strategy combined the use of Pseudomonas putida strains, indigenous culturable microbes and annual grasses. After 8 months of monitoring soil quality parameters, including the removal of monoaromatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as well as vegetation cover, we found that the site had returned to pre-fire status. Microbial population analysis revealed that fires induced changes in the indigenous microbiota and that rhizoremediation favours the recovery of soil microbiota in time. The results obtained in this study indicate that the rhizoremediation strategy could be presented as a viable and cost-effective alternative for the treatment of ecosystems affected by fires.
authors: Bio-Ilíberis R&D, Polígono Industrial Juncaril, Peligros, Granada, 18210, Spain.
authors: Paloma
authors: P
authors: Pizarro-Tobías
authors: Matilde
authors: M
authors: Fernández
authors: José Luis
authors: JL
authors: Niqui
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Solano
authors: Estrella
authors: E
authors: Duque
authors: Juan-Luis
authors: JL
authors: Ramos
authors: Amalia
authors: A
authors: Roca
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D017753:Ecosystem; D005390:Fires; D065928:Forests; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014197:Trees / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants