Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140787
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Temporal decoupling of metal(loid) binding and microbial adaptation in arsenic and cadmium contaminated soils under changing climate
Author Wang, T.; Roschke, C.; Sánchez, N.; Duncan, A.H.; Namayandeh, A.; Fendorf, S.; Nunes da Rocha, U.; Muehe, E.M.
Source Titel Journal of Hazardous Materials
Year 2026
Department COMPBC; AME
Volume 501
Page From art. 140787
Language englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
Supplements Supplement 1
Keywords Partitioning; Acclimatization; Climate change; Soil microbial adaption; Combined stress
Abstract

Soil contamination with metals and metalloids is a growing environmental concern, impacting soil ecosystems. Exogenous metal(loid)s are retained in the soil matrix via adsorption, structural incorporation, and precipitation, imposing stress on soil microbiomes, potentially influenced by climate. It remains unclear whether introduced metal(loid)s bind similarly to native ones and how quickly soil microbiomes adapt under today’s and future climate conditions. We incubated soils spiked with 0.7 mg kg−1 cadmium or 15 mg kg−1 arsenic under today’s and future climate scenarios (IPCC SSP 3–7.0: +400 ppmv CO2, +4°C). After 38 days, spiked As and Cd did not integrate into soil minerals like native counterparts but preferentially associated with more reactive minerals. Spiked As became more recalcitrant over time, an effect enhanced under future conditions. Spiked Cd remained reactive during incubation, independent of climate conditions. Prokaryotic abundances increased faster in metal(loid)-spiked soil under future conditions with distinct soil prokaryotic community structures emerging in response to metal(loid)s and climate. Despite this, key functions like Fe(III) reduction were maintained. Communities nearly stabilized within 38 days across climate conditions. These findings suggest that exogenous metal(loid)s may require years to achieve native-level binding, while soil microbes adapt functionally within weeks, even under climate change.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=31708
Wang, T., Roschke, C., Sánchez, N., Duncan, A.H., Namayandeh, A., Fendorf, S., Nunes da Rocha, U., Muehe, E.M. (2026):
Temporal decoupling of metal(loid) binding and microbial adaptation in arsenic and cadmium contaminated soils under changing climate
J. Hazard. Mater. 501 , art. 140787 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140787