AME 47:141-151 (2007)  -  doi:10.3354/ame047141

ABSTRACT: Three samples of acid mine drainage (AMD) collected from Dabaoshan Mine (Guangdong Province, China) were studied. In addition to physico-chemical analyses, bacterial diversities and community structures of these samples were described at genetic level by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). A total of 60 different ARDRA patterns were obtained from 377 clones and were studied as operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which were re-amplified and sequenced. The sequence data and phylogenetic analysis showed that Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans represented 88.0% of the bacterial population in Sample LC. However, Samples JX and FS contained more diverse colonies of bacteria, such as Leptospirillum ferrooxidans (JX: 16.9%, FS: 39.1%), Acidiphilum sp. (JX: 38.7%, FS: 25.8%) and A. ferrooxidans (JX: 12.1%, FS: 10.2%). These diversities were characterized by the reciprocal of Simpson’s index (1/D) and correlated with the concentrations of ferrous iron and toxic ions in AMD.

KEY WORDS: Bacterial diversity · Microbial community · Acid mine drainage · Amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis