Title:

Assessment of the suitability of dehydrogenase activity as a biomarker in the plant rhizosphere soil and lichen thalli for trace element pollution around a zinc smelter – a preliminary research

Creator:

Skubała, Kaja ; Styburski, Jakub ; Chowaniec, Karolina

Subject:

cladonia rei ; dehydrogenase activity ; biomonitoring ; rhizosphere soil ; calamagrostis epigejos

Description:

In recent years, the application of biomarker-based approaches in field studies of contaminated environments has gained attraction, as biomarkers offer a sensitive method for early detection of toxicological impacts. Dehydrogenase activity (DHA) is a good environmental indicator of stress in lichens, while a decrease in its activity in soil may be associated with increased levels of pollutants in the substrate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of distance to the zinc smelter on dehydrogenase activity in the epigeic lichen Cladonia rei Schaer. and in the rhizosphere soil of grass Calamagrostis epigejos L. Roth. We also aimed to evaluate the performance of DHA in lichens and rhizosphere soil in the context of validating this biomarker for soil monitoring. Samples of C. rei and rhizosphere soil were collected from sites designated on the transect between 300 to 4100 m east of the "Miasteczko Śląskie" zinc smelter. We found reduced DHA levels in rhizosphere soil near the smelter; however, there was no clear trend of DHA increase with distance from the smelter. This phenomenon may be explained by the specificity of the rhizosphere microhabitat and interactions between microorganisms and plants. Our results also showed that DHA in C. rei is highly sensitive to soil contamination by trace element. Consequently, measurement of DHA in this species could indicate elevated trace element concentrations in the soil. This biomarker in lichens may serve as a warning signal for high soil pollution, particularly when smelting activities are conducted near agricultural areas.

Place of publishing:

Koszalin

Publisher:

Politechnika Koszalińska

Date:

2025

Type:

artykuł w czasopiśmie

Language:

eng

Is part of:

Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska. Vol. 27, s. 361-372

Rights:

Biblioteka Politechniki Koszalińskiej

Access rights:

internet

License:

Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0