Distinct response of nitrogen metabolism to exogenous cadmium (Cd) in river sediments with and without Cd contamination history

IF 11.4 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL Water Research Pub Date : 2025-01-06 DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2025.123104

Aomei Guan, Qiang Peng, Weihang Zhang, Weixiao Qi, Chengzhi Hu, Jiuhui Qu

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Abstract

The role of metal resistance on nitrogen metabolism function and community resilience against Cd is important for elucidating the evolutionary dynamics of key ecological functions in river ecosystems. In this study, the response of nitrogen transforming function to Cd exposure in river sediments from the Yangtze River Basin with varying levels of heavy metal contamination history (Cd-contaminated and Cd-free sediments) was compared to understand how Cd influenced nitrogen metabolism under varying metal resistance conditions. The results showed that chronic and persistent Cd pollution of sediments caused an elevation of transport efflux metal resistance genes (MRGs) and a reduction in the uptake MRGs, leading to a stronger tolerance to Cd for Cd-contaminated sediment than Cd-free ones. Specifically, denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) respectively responded to Cd through different mechanisms. Exogenous Cd (5-100 mg/kg) influenced denitrification rates (-70%∼100% deviation to control group) by regulating key genera (Thiobacillus, Magnetospirillum, Sideroxydans etc.) and gene clusters for denitrification. Both adaptive nature of anammox bacteria and co-regulation of key genera (Candidatus_Scalindua, Candidatus_Jettenia, Planctomyces etc.) and gene hzsA were drivers of differential responses in sediments from various contamination history. Environmental factors rather than contamination history, key genera or genes were probably critical ones determining Cd-resistance in DNRA, being more tolerant to Cd in sediments with higher TOC and NH₄⁺. Stimulation of N₂O reduction process (genera Gemmatimonas and Gemmatirosa and genes nosZ) in Cd-contaminated sediments by exogenous Cd lowered N₂O emission risk, whereas the reverse was true for Cd-free sediments. These results enrich our understanding about the linkages among MRGs and nitrogen reduction functions in river.

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来源期刊

Water Research 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

20.80

自引率

9.40%

发文量

1307

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Water Research, along with its open access companion journal Water Research X, serves as a platform for publishing original research papers covering various aspects of the science and technology related to the anthropogenic water cycle, water quality, and its management worldwide. The audience targeted by the journal comprises biologists, chemical engineers, chemists, civil engineers, environmental engineers, limnologists, and microbiologists. The scope of the journal include: •Treatment processes for water and wastewaters (municipal, agricultural, industrial, and on-site treatment), including resource recovery and residuals management; •Urban hydrology including sewer systems, stormwater management, and green infrastructure; •Drinking water treatment and distribution; •Potable and non-potable water reuse; •Sanitation, public health, and risk assessment; •Anaerobic digestion, solid and hazardous waste management, including source characterization and the effects and control of leachates and gaseous emissions; •Contaminants (chemical, microbial, anthropogenic particles such as nanoparticles or microplastics) and related water quality sensing, monitoring, fate, and assessment; •Anthropogenic impacts on inland, tidal, coastal and urban waters, focusing on surface and ground waters, and point and non-point sources of pollution; •Environmental restoration, linked to surface water, groundwater and groundwater remediation; •Analysis of the interfaces between sediments and water, and between water and atmosphere, focusing specifically on anthropogenic impacts; •Mathematical modelling, systems analysis, machine learning, and beneficial use of big data related to the anthropogenic water cycle; •Socio-economic, policy, and regulations studies.