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Extremely Acidic Eukaryotic (Micro) Organisms: Life in Acid Mine Drainage Polluted Environments—Mini-Review

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Teresa Luís

    (GeoBioTec Research Unit, Department of Geosciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
    Department of Water, Mining and Environment, Scientific and Technological Center of Huelva, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain)

  • Francisco Córdoba

    (Department of Integrated Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain)

  • Catarina Antunes

    (GeoBioTec Research Unit, Department of Geosciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Raul Loayza-Muro

    (Laboratório de Ecotoxicología, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofiia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Av. Honorio Delgado 430, Lima 15102, Peru)

  • José Antonio Grande

    (Department of Water, Mining and Environment, Scientific and Technological Center of Huelva, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
    Sustainable Mining Engineering Research Group, Department of Mining, Mechanic, Energetic and Construction Engineering, Higher Technical School of Engineering, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain)

  • Bruna Silva

    (GeoBioTec Research Unit, Department of Geosciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Jesus Diaz-Curiel

    (Escuela Técnica Superior Ingenieros de Minas, Rios Rosas 21, 28003 Madrid, Spain)

  • Eduardo Ferreira da Silva

    (GeoBioTec Research Unit, Department of Geosciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

Abstract

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) results from sulfide oxidation, which incorporates hydrogen ions, sulfate, and metals/metalloids into the aquatic environment, allowing fixation, bioaccumulation and biomagnification of pollutants in the aquatic food chain. Acidic leachates from waste rock dams from pyritic and (to a lesser extent) coal mining are the main foci of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) production. When AMD is incorporated into rivers, notable changes in water hydro-geochemistry and biota are observed. There is a high interest in the biodiversity of this type of extreme environments for several reasons. Studies indicate that extreme acid environments may reflect early Earth conditions, and are thus, suitable for astrobiological experiments as acidophilic microorganisms survive on the sulfates and iron oxides in AMD-contaminated waters/sediments, an analogous environment to Mars; other reasons are related to the biotechnological potential of extremophiles. In addition, AMD is responsible for decreasing the diversity and abundance of different taxa, as well as for selecting the most well-adapted species to these toxic conditions. Acidophilic and acidotolerant eukaryotic microorganisms are mostly composed by algae (diatoms and unicellular and filamentous algae), protozoa, fungi and fungi-like protists, and unsegmented pseudocoelomata animals such as Rotifera and micro-macroinvertebrates. In this work, a literature review summarizing the most recent studies on eukaryotic organisms and micro-organisms in Acid Mine Drainage-affected environments is elaborated.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Teresa Luís & Francisco Córdoba & Catarina Antunes & Raul Loayza-Muro & José Antonio Grande & Bruna Silva & Jesus Diaz-Curiel & Eduardo Ferreira da Silva, 2021. "Extremely Acidic Eukaryotic (Micro) Organisms: Life in Acid Mine Drainage Polluted Environments—Mini-Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2021:i:1:p:376-:d:714489
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Silvia Díaz & Patricia De Francisco & Sanna Olsson & Ángeles Aguilera & Elena González-Toril & Ana Martín-González, 2020. "Toxicity, Physiological, and Ultrastructural Effects of Arsenic and Cadmium on the Extremophilic Microalga Chlamydomonas acidophila," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-20, March.
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