Interactions between heavy metals and bacteria in mangroves

Environmental heavy metal pollution has become a serious problem in recent years. Therefore, our study investigated seven heavy metal-contaminated mangroves (Beihai, Fangchenggang, Hainan, Hongkong, Shenzhen, Yunxiao, and Zhanjiang) in southern China, and found that they were particularly polluted with Zn and Pb. These heavy metals were mainly distributed in the surface sediments of the mangroves. Among these seven mangroves, the Shenzhen mangrove was the most polluted site, whereas the Beihai mangrove was the least polluted. Moreover, the bacterial communities in the mangroves were significantly associated with heavy metal contamination. For instance, Fusibacter was significantly correlated with Pb, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Cd, and Ag (P < 0.05, R = -0.47). Syntrophorhabdus was also significantly correlated with heavy metals (P < 0.05, R = 0.63). Furthermore, Geo-Chip analyses were conducted to demonstrate the involvement of many functional genes in heavy metal transport, particularly Ni transport. Our results also demonstrated that the heavy metals could be transported by various bacteria. For example, Pseudomonas and Burkholderia were involved in various heavy metal transportation mechanisms, particularly for Ni and Zn, suggesting that these bacteria could be used for heavy metal remediation. Therefore, our study provides insights into the interactions between bacterial communities and heavy metals, which could enable the development of novel mangrove protection strategies.

Automated summary

Environmental heavy metal pollution has become a serious issue in recent years. A study on seven heavy metal-contaminated mangroves in southern China revealed that Zn and Pb were the major pollutants, with the Shenzhen mangrove being the most polluted and the Beihai mangrove the least. Bacterial communities in the mangroves showed significant correlations with heavy metal contamination, with certain bacteria like Pseudomonas and Burkholderia potentially useful for heavy metal remediation. Geo-Chip analyses also indicated the involvement of various functional genes in heavy metal transport, particularly for Ni.