title: Molecular tools to understand the bioremediation effect of plants and earthworms on contaminated marine sediments.
abstract: A meso-scale pilot plant was set up to test the efficiency of a bioremediation scheme applied to marine sediments contaminated by heavy metals and hydrocarbons. The experiment was implemented for three years in two stages using two remediation agents: plants (Paspalum vaginatum and Tamarix gallica) and earthworms (Eisenia fetida). DNA and RNA-based methodologies were applied to elucidate the dynamics of the bacterial population and were related to improving biological and chemical conditions of the sediments. Bioremediation strategies were successful in removing pollutants from the contaminated sediments and specialization within the bacterial community related to the type of contamination present was detected in the different stages of the process. The highest response of Gram-positive PAH-degraders to the contamination was detected at the beginning and after the first stage of the experiment, corresponding to the uppermost values of degradation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín (EEZ), CSIC, Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain. Electronic address: beatriz.moreno@eez.csic.es.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín (EEZ), CSIC, Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cañizares
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecosystem Study (ISE), CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macci
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecosystem Study (ISE), CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doni
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecosystem Study (ISE), CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masciandaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín (EEZ), CSIC, Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benitez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D031781:Paspalum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D032363:Tamaricaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D004247:DNA
keywords: Bioremediation; Heavy metals; Hydrocarbons; Marine sediments; Molecular tools; PAH-degrading bacteria