IMAR-CMA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2012 Dec;86:188-97. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2012.09.013. Epub 2012 Oct 16.
Ecological parameters (soil invertebrates, microbial activity, and plant community) were assessed in a metal contaminated site in an abandoned lead smelter and non-contaminated reference sites, as part of an ecological risk assessment (ERA). Vegetation cover inside the smelter area was lower and presented a more homogenous species composition than outside. A more simplified and less abundant vegetation community within the smelter area also simplified the habitat conditions, which in addition to metal toxicity, impaired the soil microbial and faunal communities. A significant reduction in the feeding activity was observed within the smelter area. Also a significant change in community composition of surface dwelling invertebrates was observed at those sites when compared to sites outside the smelter area. Moreover, basal respiration, microbial biomass C, dehydrogenase and phosphatase activity also decreased in several of these points under the smelter area. As a result, a significant impairment of organic material decomposition in the most contaminated sites was observed. Metal contamination affected the ecological status of the site, leading to a risk for ecosystem functioning and provisioning of ecosystem services like organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling, even 17 years after the end of smelting activities. Regarding the sensitivity of the ecological parameters assessed, most were able to distinguish sites within the smelter area boundaries from those outside. However, only bait lamina (feeding activity), basal respiration and microbial biomass carbon presented high capacity to distinguish the level of soil contamination, since they were significantly correlated with metal loadings, and thus are promising candidates to be integrated in the Ecological Line of Evidence of an ERA.
生态参数（土壤无脊椎动物、微生物活性和植物群落）在一个废弃的铅冶炼厂的金属污染场地和非污染对照场地进行了评估，作为生态风险评估（ERA）的一部分。冶炼厂区域内的植被覆盖率较低，物种组成也较为单一。与冶炼厂区域外相比，冶炼厂区域内更为简化且生物多样性更为匮乏的植被群落也简化了栖息地条件，除了金属毒性之外，还损害了土壤微生物和无脊椎动物群落。在冶炼厂区域内，观察到摄食活动显著减少。与冶炼厂区域外的地点相比，在这些地点还观察到地表栖息无脊椎动物群落组成发生了显著变化。此外，在冶炼厂区域下的几个地点，基础呼吸、微生物生物量 C、脱氢酶和磷酸酶活性也降低了。结果，在污染最严重的地点，有机物质分解受到了显著的损害。金属污染影响了该地点的生态状况，导致生态系统功能受损，并提供了生态系统服务，如有机物质分解和养分循环，即使在冶炼活动结束 17 年后也是如此。关于评估的生态参数的敏感性，大多数参数都能够区分冶炼厂区域内和外的地点。然而，只有诱饵层（摄食活动）、基础呼吸和微生物生物量碳具有区分土壤污染程度的高能力，因为它们与金属负荷显著相关，因此是有前途的候选物，可以整合到生态风险评估的生态证据线上。
