9 p. : il., tab.Mining of metallic sulfide ore produces acidic
water with high metal concentrations that have harmful
consequences for aquatic life. To understand the composition
and structure of microbial communities in acid mine
drainage (AMD) waters associated with Zn mine tailings,
molecular diversity of 16S genes was examined using a
PCR, cloning, and sequencing approach. A total of 78
operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained from
samples collected at five different sites in and around
mining residues in Sepetiba Bay, Brazil. We analyzed metal
concentration, physical, chemical, and microbiological
parameters related to prokaryotic diversity in low metal
impacted compared to highly polluted environments with
Zn at level of gram per liter and Cd–Pb at level of microgram
per liter. Application of molecular methods for
community structure analyses showed that Archaea and
Bacteria groups present a phylogenetic relationship with
uncultured environmental organisms. Phylogenetic analysis
revealed that bacteria present at the five sites fell into seven
known divisions, a-Proteobacteria (13.4%), b-Proteobacteria
(16.3%), c-Proteobacteria (4.3%), Sphingobacteriales
(4.3%), Actinobacteria (3.2%) Acidobacteria (2.1%),
Cyanobacteria (11.9%), and unclassified bacteria (44.5%).
Almost all archaeal clones were related to uncultivated
Crenarchaeota species, which were shared between high
impacted and low impacted waters. Rarefaction curves
showed that bacterial groups are more diverse than archaeal
groups while the overall prokaryotic biodiversity is lower in
high metal impacted environments than in less polluted
habitats. Knowledge of this microbial community structure
will help in understanding prokaryotic diversity, biogeography,
and the role of microorganisms in zinc smelting
AMD generation and perhaps it may be exploited for
environmental remediation procedures in this area