title: Changes in enzymatic activities in metal contaminated and reclaimed lands in Northern Ontario (Canada).
abstract: Metal and sulfur dioxide (SO2) contaminations in Northern Ontario (Canada), especially in the Greater Sudbury Region (GSR) caused by mining activities have resulted in severe environmental degradations. A long term restoration program has led to significant landscape changes and healthy ecosystems. The objective of this study was to assess variation in enzymatic activities and soil respiration in metal contaminated and reclaimed ecosystems. Soil analysis revealed that respiration rates were higher in metal contaminated limed soils (65ppm) compared to adjacent unlimed areas (35ppm). The respiration rates in metal contaminated sites (55ppm) were significantly lower compared to reference (metal-uncontaminated) areas (90ppm). β-glucosidase (BG), cellobiohydrolase (CBH), β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGase), aryl sulfatase (AS), acid phosphatase (AP), alkaline phosphatase (AlP), glycine aminopeptidase (GAP), and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activities were significantly higher in limed compared to unlimed sites. Metal contamination significantly reduced the activities of these enzymes with the exception of LAP. An opposite trend was observed for peroxidase (PER) activity that was lower in limed compared to corresponding unlimed areas. Likewise, PER activity values were significantly lower in metal contaminated than in uncontaminated reference sites.
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Sciences Program, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6.
authors.forename: Ramya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Narendrula-Kotha
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Sciences Program, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6; Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6. Electronic address: knkongolo@laurentian.ca.
authors.forename: Kabwe K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Nkongolo
mesh_terms: D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D008906:Mining; D009864:Ontario; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D017610:Calcium Compounds; D004798:Enzymes; D008670:Metals; D010087:Oxides; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; C016538:lime
keywords: Liming; Metal contamination; Soil enzyme activity; Soil organic matter; Soil quality; Soil respiration; pH