BioRem—Database for Remediation of Heavy Metal Rich Habitats and Protection of Their Biodiversity

doi:10.4236/ajps.2013.410239

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American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2013, 4, 1938-1940

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2013.410239 Published Online October 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/ajps)

BioRem—Database for Remediation of Heavy Metal Rich

Habitats and Protection of Their Biodiversity

Lukas Nebel1, Gerhard Kreitner1,2, Othmar Horak1, Wolfram Adlassnig1, Gregor Eder1,

Edwin Palomino3, Mario Leyva3, Irene Lichtscheidl1*

1Core Facility Cell Imaging and Ultrastructure Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; 2blp GeoServices lim, Vienna, Aus-

tria; 3Universidad Nacional Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo, Huaraz, Perú.

Email: *[email protected]

Received April 16th, 2013; revised May 17th, 2013; accepted June 15th, 2013

which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT

BioRem is an open access on-line resource, which aims to document the biodiversity of terrestrial heavy metal rich sites

around the globe that are the habitats of specialized metal tolerant organisms (MTOs). A comprehensive inventory of

MTOs together with an analysis of environmental co nditions and research about th e adaptations of MTOs shall support

the development of holistic models about the functioning of heavy metal ecosystems and lead to an improved under-

standing of interactions and adaptation strategies of MTOs. Furthermore, the database enables the identification of

plants and microorganisms suited for remediation actions where protection of the population and the environment is

needed. Information abou t scientific data shall lay the ground for the d efinition of h eav y metal h abitats with un ique bio-

coenoses as reservoirs of biodiversity: accordingly, BioRem shall be a resource for education and for dissemination of

our knowledge about the ecology of heavy metal rich sites and their habitats, and it shall provide tools for the evaluation

of socio-economic strategies for either remediation or preservation of heavy metal habitats. Where needed, alternative

strategies for the survival of MTOs shall be developed, hence contributing to the aim of the Göteborg 2010 target to halt

loss of biodiversity.

Keywords: Ecology; Heavy Metals; Metallophytes; Plant Tolerance; Biodiversity Phytoremediation

1. Introduction: Life in Habitats

Contaminated by Heavy Metals

Toxic concentrations of heavy metals (HMs, here defined

as elements with a specific weight > 5 g·cm-3 in the me-

tallic state) in soil occur either fro m natural ore outcrops,

serpentine rock and other geoanomalies, or from man-

made metal mining, smelting and metal processing. Met-

als can be differentiated into elements essential for orga-

nisms (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ni Cr, Co, Mo), such without

known effects (V, W, Sn) and those that are always toxic

(Pb, Cd, Hg, Pt). However, at supra-optimal levels all

heavy metals become toxic. This threshold level is spe-

cific for each organism, ecotype and element [1,2].

Only few species (MTOs, metal-tolerant organisms)

have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to control metal

homeostasis at the levels of uptake, distribution, seques-

tration and export, and to survive and propagate in toxic

environments better than others [3-5].

MTOs—including plants, fungi and bacteria—are of

special interest, since some of them, so far mainly plants,

are candidates for the improvement of HM sites. Some

plants are capable of accumulating valuable HMs (“phy-

to-mining”, [6]), of removing HMs from the soil (“phy-

to-extraction”, [7]) and of preventing leaching of HM

into the environment (“phyto-stabilisation”, [8]), thus lead-

ing to phyto-remediation of the soil. Fungi may increase

the metal resistance of plants by forming mycorrhiza, and

bacteria may crucially influence the bioavailability of

toxic elements. On the other hand, little is known on the

role of the soil fauna, on the differing effects of different

metal rich ore minerals, and on the interaction of all these

parameters with each other. In order to gain a compre-

hensive image of the biodiversity and adaptations of

MTOs, we therefore need to overcome fragmentation of

knowledge by accumulating and summarizing existing

information abo ut the ecology of HM sites and their bio-

diversity.

Remediation of toxic HM soil is of paramount socio-

*Corresponding a uthor.

BioRem—Database for Remediation of Heavy Metal Rich Habitats and Protection of Their Biodiversity 1939

economic importance in order to ensure that humans are

provided with an environment as healthy as possible. On

the other hand, removal of contaminated sites inevitably

causes the loss of habitats for MTOs, hence threatening

them into extinction, maybe even before we have learnt

to know them. It is therefore important to understand the

complex relationships between HM pollution and ecol-

ogy before remediation of HM polluted sites can be ap-

plied correctly. Furthermore, it is crucial to distinguish

between HM polluted habitats which pose a threat for

humans and the environment, and those successfully sta-

bilized by their biocoenoses; the latter can serve as mod-

els for the study of the ecology of HM rich habitats and

of the strategies of their host organisms for tolerating

HM stress.

The aim of this database therefore is to document the

biodiversity of terrestrial heavy metal rich habitats, which

are the homes of specialized metal tolerant organisms. It

shall lead to a holistic model about the functioning of

heavy metal ecosystems, to an improved understanding

of interactions and survival strategies of MTOs, and to

the identification of plants and microorganisms suitable

for remediation actions where protection of the people

and the environment are needed. BioRem shall be a re-

source for education and for dissemination of knowledge

about the functioning of heavy metal sites and their

MTOs, and it shall help in deciding about best practice

for remediation actions and for plant conservation.

The database has been developed in the frame of the

EU project Umbrella (EU 226870), of the Austrian ŒAD/

Appear project BioRem (Appear 43) and of the bilateral

project Promote between Austria and Romania (WTZ-

OEAD RO-08/2012). It is interlinked with the Global

Metallophyte Database [9], a leading database about me-

tal-tolerant plants, and with ISES, the website of the In-

ternational Serpentine Ecology Society. ISES gives infor-

mation about habitats on metal rich serpentine bedrock

and their metal tolerant plants [10]. We also draw atten-

tion to a list of metal hyperaccumulating plants provided

on the internet [11]. In providing Bio Rem, we invite col-

leagues world-wide to contribute their experience of hea-

vy metal rich sites and their biodiversity.

2. Expected Results from the Database

Biorem

BioRem is created as a platform for the exchange of in-

formation from biodiversity and ecophysiology research

on heavy metal ecosystems. It shall lead to an inventory

of MTOs and promote our understanding of the ecology

of HM polluted habitats as well as of adaptation strate-

gies of MTOs. Accordingly, we want to contribute infor-

mation to funda mental questions conc erning:

 Structure and diversity of heavy metal biocoenoses by

assessing genetic diversity and distribution: 1) gain a

comprehensive inventory of MTOs, including not

only vascular plants but also mosses, lichens, terre-

stric algae, animals and microorganisms; 2) identify

specialised phenotypes, genotypes and ecotypes ori-

ginating from different HM rich areas; 3) evaluate their

status of threat.

 Environmental conditions and functioning of HM eco-

systems: 1) study the environmental conditions that

typically add to h eavy metal stress includ ing high so-

lar irradiation, extreme temperatures, drought, low nu-

trient supply and radioactivity; 2) correlate these con-

ditions with geology, mineralogy and metal content of

bedrock and soils as well as the occurrence of specific

MTOs; 3) assess the influence of other important fac-

tors like herbivory and human perturbation.

 Adaptation strategies of MTOs: 1) identify the struc-

tural base for heavy metal homeostasis, inc luding mor-

phological, anatomical and ultrastructural approaches;

2) analyse physiological reactions to heavy metal stress,

integrating results from research fields as diverse as

genetics, proteomics, cell biology, classical physiolo-

gy and evodevo-research; 3) establish new model sys-

tems of MTO-research in the fields of bryology, my-

cology and microbiology.

 Closing the gap between mineralogy and diversity re-

search: 1) identify the major HM minerals present at

HM contaminated habitats, especially mining sites; 2)

correlate the occurrence of specific min erals with other

abiotic conditions like redox potential, pH and water

regime; 3) correlate the occurrence of HM minerals

and specific MTOs.

 Survival strategies on the community level: Vascular

metallophytes live in close contact with specialised

fungi and bacteria that may influence the bioav ailabi-

lity of heavy metals and may be stimulated or inhib-

ited by the plants via exudates. We want to accumu-

late information about how these communities are

structured and if key species can be identified. This

may add to th e question if the tr ansfer of whol e com-

munities could provide a superior strategy for phyto-

remediation compared to the convention al planting of

isolated HM toleran t vascula r p lants.

 Need for remediation or conservation of heavy metal

ecosystems: 1) identify plants suited for remediation;

2) define specific heavy metal habitats with unique

biocoenoses as reservoirs of biodiversity; 3) hence

contribute to the aim of the Göteborg 2010 target to

halt loss of biodiversity.

In addition, sharing information shall add to develop-

ing a network of scientists and stakeholders with multi-

disciplinary backgro und, and hence create a synoptic en-

vironment for education and research in the field of me-

tal-rich ecosystems.

BioRem—Database for Remediation of Heavy Metal Rich Habitats and Protection of Their Biodiversity

1940

3. Layout of the Database

We set up a frame system that is based on the Wordpress

content management system (http://wordpress.org/). The

advantages of Wordpress include both easy setup and

easy use. Compared to the construction of a custom plat-

form, the use of Wordpress results in a considerable re-

duction of cost for setup and maintenance, as it is equip-

ped with an own, built in database and user management.

In order to provide easy access for the worldwide scien-

tific community, the database is set up in English.

Currently a development version is available at

http://www.univie.ac.at/biorem. W e start to integrate data

of various habitats in order to check for the applicability

of the suggested topics, and we invite our colleagues to

contribute their expertise in order to see if the system is

able to mirror the actual situation of the fields.

At the present state, we invite information about HM

habitats by mail to [email protected] in or-

der to install the website. Information can then be added

about geology and mineralogy, about physical and che-

mical properties of the so il, about flora and fauna as well

as soil microbes, and about the history of the mining site

as well as about its socio-economic conditions. Articles

can be contributed and texts can be commented after re-

gistration. Special emphasize is laid on the provenience

of the data; they are all linked with the name and affilia-

tion of the contributor.

4. Conclusion

BioRem shall document the biodiversity of heavy metal

rich sites around the globe, which are the habitats of spe-

cialized MTOs. Accordingly, it shall provide a compre-

hensive inventory of MTOs together with the analysis of

environmental conditions, and hence lead to a holistic

model of life in heavy metal rich habitats providing ob-

servations and research publications. It shall be a source

for quotable scientific information of research about ad-

aptation mechanisms of MTOs as well as for applied

questions such as gentle remediation by plants and soil

microbes. Information will be useful not only for resear-

chers but also for stakeholders and communities, and it

will support developing guidelines for either remediation

or conservation of habitats.

5. Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the funding of the work by the

EU project Umbrella (EU 22687 0), by the Austrian Min-

istery for Science and Research, by the Austrian ŒAD/

Appear funded project BioRem (Appear 43), and by the

OEAD funded project Promote (WTZ-RO 08/2012).

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