Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yun-Yun Hao, Hui -Wen Liu, Jiating Zhao, Jiao Feng, Xiuli Hao, Qiaoyun Huang, Baohua Gu, Yu-Rong Liu
Summary: Microplastics (MPs) in agricultural ecosystems can influence the conversion of mercury (Hg) to neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg), but the mechanism is poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of MPs on Hg methylation in paddy soils and found that MPs significantly increased MeHg production. The microbial communities associated with Hg methylation were different in the plastisphere (region around the MPs) compared to the bulk soil, and these differences could contribute to the distinct MeHg production ability.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pei Lei, Chao Tang, Yongjie Wang, MengJie Wu, Raymond W. M. Kwong, Tao Jiang, Huan Zhong
Summary: This study examines the impact of sulfur input on MeHg production in paddy soils. The results show that different types and amounts of sulfur input can increase MeHg levels, primarily due to increased Hg mobility. Additionally, sulfate input can increase MeHg levels in soils with low ambient sulfate levels, but has no effect on high-sulfate soils.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yunyun Li, Shu-Shen Dai, Jiating Zhao, Zhi-Cheng Hu, Qin Liu, Jiao Feng, Qiaoyun Huang, Yuxi Gao, Yu-Rong Liu
Summary: This study explored the effects of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) on microbial production of methylmercury (MeHg) in two different paddy soils. Results showed that the addition of C alone significantly increased MeHg production, but this effect was mitigated when N and C were added together. S had a buffering effect on C-facilitated MeHg production in one soil type but not the other. MeHg production was correlated with the abundance of specific bacteria in both soils, and changes in the Hg methylating community influenced MeHg production. The study provides important insights into microbe-driven Hg conversion in paddy and wetland ecosystems.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xin-Quan Zhou, Xiao-Min Qu, Ziming Yang, Jiating Zhao, Yun-Yun Hao, Jiao Feng, Qiaoyun Huang, Yu-Rong Liu
Summary: In water-saturated upland soils, increased water content promotes the production of methylmercury (MeHg) and its subsequent bioaccumulation in food webs, posing a threat to human health. Elevated temperature further enhances MeHg production, and water saturation facilitates microbial syntrophy, leading to increased Hg methylation. This study suggests that uplands could serve as potential reservoirs of MeHg as a result of water inputs.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mahmoud A. Abdelhafiz, Jiang Liu, Tao Jiang, Qiang Pu, Muhammad Wajahat Aslam, Kun Zhang, Bo Meng, Xinbin Feng
Summary: Rice paddies provide optimal conditions for methylmercury (MeHg) production, with paddy soil being the main source of MeHg in rice grains. The role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in controlling MeHg production in rice paddy systems is not well understood. This study investigated the variations in soil DOM and the influence of DOM concentration and optical characteristics on MeHg production in paddy soils from different cultivation sites in China. The results showed that MeHg production is correlated with the consumption of lower molecular weight DOM and the humic components of DOM play a significant role in MeHg variability in paddy soil. The study also revealed that allochthonous DOM limits Hg bioavailability in contaminated soils and autochthonous DOM enhances MeHg production in uncontaminated soils.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xu Yang, Zihao Li, Chi Ma, Zhongzhu Yang, Jingjing Wei, Tantan Wang, Xin Wen, Wenhao Chen, Xiaohong Shi, Yi Zhang, Chang Zhang
Summary: Microplastics were found to decrease bioavailable methylmercury concentrations in soils possibly through impacting DOM composition, altering soil properties, and influencing the abundance of specific microbial populations. The study highlights the importance of investigating the effects of microplastics on specific contaminants to develop effective environmental remediation strategies in polluted paddy soils.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chutong Liu, Yongqiang Ning, Jinling Liu
Summary: Rice paddies, as artificial wetlands, produce methylmercury (MeHg), a potent neurotoxin. This study examines the impact of different mercury (Hg) forms on Hg-methylating communities in soil during rice growth. The results showed variations in the abundance of certain microbial groups under different mercury treatments and concentrations. The presence of hgcA-methanogen abundance in the soil was significantly correlated with MeHg concentration.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yufan Zhang, Xiangqin Wang, Yang Yang, Yingmei Huang, Xiaomin Li, Shiwen Hu, Kexue Liu, Yan Pang, Tongxu Liu, Fangbai Li
Summary: In order to assess the risks and develop remediation strategies for mercury-contaminated soils in paddy fields, understanding the mechanisms of mercury transformation and migration is crucial. This study investigated the changes in mercury fractions in a spiked acidic paddy soil under anoxic and oxic conditions, and established a kinetic model to quantitatively estimate the transformation processes. The results provided new insights into the exogenous mercury transformation processes and could be useful in predicting mercury availability in periodically flooded acidic paddy fields.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiang Liu, Benqi Lu, Alexandre J. Poulain, Rui Zhang, Tong Zhang, Xinbin Feng, Bo Meng
Summary: Rice consumption is a major pathway for human methylmercury exposure in inland China, especially in mercury contaminated regions. However, high levels of methylmercury are still found in rice, calling for reconsideration of the bioavailability of mercury species in paddy soils. Incubation experiments showed that different Hg(II) species have varying impacts on mercury methylation at different mercury concentrations, emphasizing the importance of considering site-specific characteristics and the nature of mercury substrates for determining net methylmercury production.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yongjie Wang, Li Chen, Yuanyuan Chen, Yongjun Xue, Guangxia Liu, Xiangmin Zheng, Limin Zhou, Huan Zhong
Summary: There is increasing evidence that biochars (BCs) have the potential to remediate mercury-contaminated paddy soils and reduce the accumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) in rice grains. The addition of BCs from different sources significantly decreased the extractable MeHg in the soil, and low doses of BCs greatly reduced MeHg levels in rice grains. These findings suggest that BCs produced from various raw carbon materials have the potential to effectively mitigate MeHg accumulation in rice and can be used in remediating moderately contaminated paddy soils.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hong Li, Yunyun Li, Wenli Tang, Yunpeng Liu, Lirong Zheng, Nan Xu, Yu-Feng Li, Diandou Xu, Yuxi Gao, Jiating Zhao
Summary: Research shows that bulk alpha-HgS can be dissolved and methylated in paddy soils, leading to a significant increase in MeHg content in rhizospheric soils, and subsequently resulting in the accumulation of THg and MeHg in rice grains.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Caroline E. Pierce, Olha S. Furman, Sarah L. Nicholas, Jill Coleman Wasik, Caitlin M. Gionfriddo, Ann M. Wymore, Stephen D. Sebestyen, Randall K. Kolka, Carl P. J. Mitchell, Natalie A. Griffiths, Dwayne A. Elias, Edward A. Nater, Brandy M. Toner
Summary: We investigated the composition and spatial correlation of sulfur and mercury pools in peatland soil profiles. Our findings suggest that organic sulfur species play an important role in mercury methylation processes.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yunyun Li, Nali Zhu, Wenjun Hu, Yu-rong Liu, Wen Jia, Guoming Lin, Hong Li, Yufeng Li, Yuxi Gao, Jiating Zhao
Summary: Sulfur can effectively treat mercury pollution, but recent studies have found conflicting effects between reducing mercury mobility and promoting mercury methylation. The potential mechanism of MeHg production under different sulfur-treated species and doses is not well understood. This study investigated MeHg production in Hg-contaminated paddy soil and its accumulation in rice under elemental sulfur or sulfate treatment at different levels. The results provide insights into the mechanism of sulfur-induced MeHg production and suggest potential strategies for decreasing mercury mobility.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ningla Yang, Jie Hu, Deliang Yin, Tianrong He, Xiang Tian, Shu Ran, Xian Zhou
Summary: In this study, the effects of agricultural dissolved organic matter (DOM) inputs on methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation in soil and mercury (Hg) enrichment in rice grains were investigated. Results showed that the addition of DOM from different agricultural sources significantly elevated MeHg concentrations in the soil and increased total Hg and MeHg contents in rice grains. The specific composition and properties of the DOM from rice straw, composted rice straw, and composted cow dung had the most significant impact on Hg accumulation in rice grains.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Siqi Zhang, Mingxing Wang, Jiang Liu, Shanyi Tian, Xueling Yang, Guangquan Xiao, Guomin Xu, Tao Jiang, Dingyong Wang
Summary: This study investigates the impact of biochar on the mercury (Hg) cycle in rice paddies using insights from soil dissolved organic matter (DOM). The results show that adding biochar can significantly reduce the bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) in rice plants and increase the aromaticity and molecular weight of DOM. However, biochar addition can also enhance microbial activity and MeHg production in the soil.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eric Capo, Benjamin D. Peterson, Minjae Kim, Daniel S. Jones, Silvia G. Acinas, Marc Amyot, Stefan Bertilsson, Erik Bjoern, Moritz Buck, Claudia Cosio, Dwayne A. Elias, Cynthia Gilmour, Marisol Goni-Urriza, Baohua Gu, Heyu Lin, Yu-Rong Liu, Katherine McMahon, John W. Moreau, Jarone Pinhassi, Mircea Podar, Fernando Puente-Sanchez, Pablo Sanchez, Veronika Storck, Yuya Tada, Adrien Vigneron, David A. Walsh, Marine Vandewalle-Capo, Andrea G. Bravo, Caitlin M. Gionfriddo
Summary: Researchers have proposed a standardized protocol for detecting, identifying, and quantifying hgc genes from metagenomes, and have created a database containing information on hgc genes. They have also developed a user-friendly bioinformatic pipeline for accurately characterizing hgc genes from environmental samples. The results show that both approaches have similar efficiency in most environments, except for high diversity environments where the coassembly approach is preferred.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hao Liao, Xiuli Hao, Fei Qin, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Yurong Liu, Jizhong Zhou, Peng Cai, Wenli Chen, Qiaoyun Huang
Summary: Microbial communities have critical roles in fixing carbon from the atmosphere and fixing it in the soils, but their large-scale variations and drivers are poorly understood. This study conducted a large-scale survey in China and found that soil autotrophic organisms, such as bacteria and protists, are crucial for explaining CO2 fluxes from the atmosphere to soils. The fixation rates of CO2 were significantly correlated to the variations in autotrophic bacteria and phototrophic protists.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shuai Du, Jiao Feng, Li Bi, Hang-Wei Hu, Xiuli Hao, Qiaoyun Huang, Yu-Rong Liu
Summary: Rice-crayfish co-culture system has the potential to spread and cause pathogenicity of resistance and virulence genes, posing a potential threat to human health. The system selectively enriched certain subtypes of these genes and showed a higher horizontal transfer potential.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Cui-Jing Zhang, Yu-Rong Liu, Guihong Cha, Yang Liu, Xin-Quan Zhou, Zhongyi Lu, Jie Pan, Mingwei Cai, Meng Li
Summary: Methylmercury (MeHg) is a potent neurotoxin that bioaccumulates along food chains. The diversity and distribution of putative microbial Hg-methylators in mangrove ecosystems were investigated using metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses. Asgard archaea, including Lokiarchaeota, were identified as potential novel Hg-methylating microorganisms. These findings suggest the important role of Asgard archaea in hgcA evolution and MeHg production.
Article
Ecology
Kunkun Fan, Haiyan Chu, David J. J. Eldridge, Juan J. J. Gaitan, Yu-Rong Liu, Blessing Sokoya, Jun-Tao Wang, Hang-Wei Hu, Ji-Zheng He, Wei Sun, Haiying Cui, Fernando D. D. Alfaro, Sebastian Abades, Felipe Bastida, Marta Diaz-Lopez, Adebola R. R. Bamigboye, Miguel Berdugo, Jose L. Blanco-Pastor, Tine Grebenc, Jorge Duran, Javier G. G. Illan, Thulani P. P. Makhalanyane, Arpan Mukherjee, Tina U. U. Nahberger, Gabriel F. F. Penaloza-Bojaca, Cesar Plaza, Jay Prakash Verma, Ana Rey, Alexandra Rodriguez, Christina Siebe, Alberto L. L. Teixido, Pankaj Trivedi, Ling Wang, Jianyong Wang, Tianxue Yang, Xin-Quan Zhou, Xiaobing Zhou, Eli Zaady, Leho Tedersoo, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
Summary: In urban greenspaces, soil biodiversity is positively correlated with multiple ecosystem functions, while plant diversity indirectly influences multifunctionality. Conserving soil biodiversity is crucial for supporting multiple dimensions of ecosystem functioning in urban ecosystems.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jiao Feng, Dailin Yu, Robert L. L. Sinsabaugh, Daryl L. L. Moorhead, Mathias Neumann Andersen, Pete Smith, Yanting Song, Xinqi Li, Qiaoyun Huang, Yu-Rong Liu, Ji Chen
Summary: Biochar amendment is a promising agricultural approach to combat climate change by enhancing soil carbon sequestration. It was found that biochar addition increased soil ligninase activity targeting complex phenolic macromolecules, but suppressed cellulase activity degrading simpler polysaccharides. These shifts in enzyme activities explained variations in soil carbon sequestration in different conditions, and the ligninase:cellulase ratio correlated negatively with soil C sequestration. Short-term biochar addition reduced cellulase activity and increased soil organic C sequestration, while long-term addition enhanced ligninase activity and ligninase:cellulase ratio, resulting in a smaller increase in soil organic C sequestration. This research provides evidence for the diminished long-term soil C sequestration with biochar addition.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Pei Lei, Ri-Qing Yu, Yaqi Kong, Stefan Bertilsson, Martin Tsz-Ki Tsui, Tao Jiang, Jiating Zhao, Yu-Rong Liu, Rinklebe Joerg, Huan Zhong
Summary: Distinguishing the contributions of different microbes to methylmercury production is crucial for predicting bioaccumulation and exposure risk. However, there are several factors that can impact the interpretation of inhibition assays, including the addition of inappropriate amounts of inhibitors, overlooking microbial syntrophy, and the absence of comprehensive proxy systems. To improve the accuracy of inhibition assays, environmental properties and concentrations of inhibitors should be considered, and comprehensive indicators should be used to assess changes in methylmercury production.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yunyun Li, Shu-Shen Dai, Jiating Zhao, Zhi-Cheng Hu, Qin Liu, Jiao Feng, Qiaoyun Huang, Yuxi Gao, Yu-Rong Liu
Summary: This study explored the effects of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) on microbial production of methylmercury (MeHg) in two different paddy soils. Results showed that the addition of C alone significantly increased MeHg production, but this effect was mitigated when N and C were added together. S had a buffering effect on C-facilitated MeHg production in one soil type but not the other. MeHg production was correlated with the abundance of specific bacteria in both soils, and changes in the Hg methylating community influenced MeHg production. The study provides important insights into microbe-driven Hg conversion in paddy and wetland ecosystems.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
David J. Eldridge, Emilio Guirado, Peter B. Reich, Raul Ochoa-Hueso, Miguel Berdugo, Tadeo Saez-Sandino, Jose L. Blanco-Pastor, Leho Tedersoo, Cesar Plaza, Jingyi Ding, Wei Sun, Steven Mamet, Haiying Cui, Ji-Zheng He, Hang-Wei Hu, Blessing Sokoya, Sebastian Abades, Fernando Alfaro, Adebola R. Bamigboye, Felipe Bastida, Asuncion de los Rios, Jorge Duran, Juan J. Gaitan, Carlos A. Guerra, Tine Grebenc, Javier G. Illan, Yu-Rong Liu, Thulani P. Makhalanyane, Max Mallen-Cooper, Marco A. Molina-Montenegro, Jose L. Moreno, Tina U. Nahberger, Gabriel F. Penaloza-Bojaca, Sergio Pico, Ana Rey, Alexandra Rodriguez, Christina Siebe, Alberto L. Teixido, Cristian Torres-Diaz, Pankaj Trivedi, Juntao Wang, Ling Wang, Jianyong Wang, Tianxue Yang, Eli Zaady, Xiaobing Zhou, Xin-Quan Zhou, Guiyao Zhou, Shengen Liu, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
Summary: A global survey of soil attributes reveals that mosses play a crucial role in carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and plant pathogen control. This comprehensive field study demonstrates that soil mosses contribute to soil biodiversity and function across different environments worldwide.
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yu-Rong Liu, Marcel G. A. van der Heijden, Judith Riedo, Carlos Sanz-Lazaro, David J. J. Eldridge, Felipe Bastida, Eduardo Moreno-Jimenez, Xin-Quan Zhou, Hang-Wei Hu, Ji-Zheng He, Jose L. Moreno, Sebastian Abades, Fernando Alfaro, Adebola R. R. Bamigboye, Miguel Berdugo, Jose L. Blanco-Pastor, Asuncion de los Rios, Jorge Duran, Tine Grebenc, Javier G. G. Illan, Thulani P. P. Makhalanyane, Marco A. A. Molina-Montenegro, Tina U. U. Nahberger, Gabriel F. F. Penaloza-Bojaca, Cesar Plaza, Ana Rey, Alexandra Rodriguez, Christina Siebe, Alberto L. L. Teixido, Nuria Casado-Coy, Pankaj Trivedi, Cristian Torres-Diaz, Jay Prakash Verma, Arpan Mukherjee, Xiao-Min Zeng, Ling Wang, Jianyong Wang, Eli Zaady, Xiaobing Zhou, Qiaoyun Huang, Wenfeng Tan, Yong-Guan Zhu, Matthias C. C. Rillig, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthias C. Rillig, Marcel G. A. van der Heijden, Miguel Berdugo, Yu-Rong Liu, Judith Riedo, Carlos Sanz-Lazaro, Eduardo Moreno-Jimenez, Ferran Romero, Leho Tedersoo, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
Summary: The authors investigate the relationship between soil stressors exceeding critical thresholds and ecosystem services. They find that multiple stressors crossing a high-level threshold reduce soil functioning and can predict ecosystem functioning. Increasing environmental stressors may decrease ecosystem functioning in soils. However, this relationship has not been globally assessed. Using global field surveys and natural and human factors, the authors test the relationship between stressors exceeding different critical thresholds and ecosystem services maintenance. Their analysis shows that multiple stressors, especially those crossing a high-level threshold, significantly reduce soil biodiversity and functioning globally. The number of stressors exceeding the >75% threshold consistently predicts multiple ecosystem services, enhancing the prediction of ecosystem functioning.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Pablo Garcia-Palacios, Mark A. Bradford, David J. Eldridge, Miguel Berdugo, Tadeo Saez-Sandino, Yu-Rong Liu, Fernando Alfaro, Sebastian Abades, Adebola R. Bamigboye, Felipe Bastida, Jose L. Blanco-Pastor, Jorge Duran, Juan J. Gaitan, Javier G. Illan, Tine Grebenc, Thulani P. Makhalanyane, Durgesh Kumar Jaiswal, Tina U. Nahberger, Gabriel F. Penaloza-Bojaca, Ana Rey, Alexandra Rodriguez, Christina Siebe, Alberto L. Teixido, Wei Sun, Pankaj Trivedi, Jay Prakash Verma, Ling Wang, Jianyong Wang, Tianxue Yang, Eli Zaady, Xiaobing Zhou, Xin-Quan Zhou, Cesar Plaza
Summary: This study compared soil samples from urban and natural ecosystems and found that the soil microbiome is an essential driver of soil carbon in urban greenspace under warming. This research is significant in highlighting the importance of considering the soil microbiome in urban management strategies to maintain soil carbon and related ecosystem services.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qin Liu, Siyuan Liu, Xin-Quan Zhou, Yu-Rong Liu
Summary: This study investigated the degradation of methylmercury (MeHg) in eight typical paddy soils and analyzed the relationship between soil physiochemical properties and microbial degradation efficiency of MeHg. The results showed that soil type played an important role in MeHg degradation, with high clay content soils exhibiting higher degradation efficiency and red paddy soils showing lower efficiency. In addition, specific soil physiochemical properties were found to influence MeHg degradation by regulating microbial communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yun-Yun Hao, Hui -Wen Liu, Jiating Zhao, Jiao Feng, Xiuli Hao, Qiaoyun Huang, Baohua Gu, Yu-Rong Liu
Summary: Microplastics (MPs) in agricultural ecosystems can influence the conversion of mercury (Hg) to neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg), but the mechanism is poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of MPs on Hg methylation in paddy soils and found that MPs significantly increased MeHg production. The microbial communities associated with Hg methylation were different in the plastisphere (region around the MPs) compared to the bulk soil, and these differences could contribute to the distinct MeHg production ability.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Haoran He, Jingxiong Zhou, Yunqiang Wang, Shuo Jiao, Xun Qian, Yurong Liu, Ji Liu, Ji Chen, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Albert C. Brangari, Li Chen, Yongxing Cui, Haibo Pan, Renmao Tian, Yuting Liang, Wenfeng Tan, Raul Ochoa-Hueso, Linchuan Fang
Summary: This study investigated microbial communities in the semi-arid forest ecosystems of China's Loess Plateau. It was found that the diversity of deep soil microbiota is influenced by aridity, but their functional potential remains relatively stable. The study also highlighted the importance of considering soil depth and moisture in understanding dryland ecosystems under future climate scenarios.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)