Microbial diversity in intensively farmed lake sediment contaminated by heavy metals and identification of microbial taxa bioindicators of environmental quality.

The cumulative effects of anthropogenic stress on freshwater ecosystems are becoming increasingly evident and worrisome. In lake sediments contaminated by heavy metals, the composition and structure of microbial communities can change and affect nutrient transformation and biogeochemical cycling of sediments. In this study, bacterial and archaeal communities of lake sediments under fish pressure contaminated with heavy metals were investigated by the Illumina MiSeq platform. Despite the similar content of most of the heavy metals in the lagoon sediments, we found that their microbial communities were different in diversity and composition. This difference would be determined by the resilience or tolerance of the microbial communities to the heavy metal enrichment gradient. Thirty-two different phyla and 66 different microbial classes were identified in sediment from the three lagoons studied. The highest percentages of contribution in the differentiation of microbial communities were presented by the classes Alphaproteobacteria (19.08%), Cyanophyceae (14.96%), Betaproteobacteria (9.01%) y Actinobacteria (7.55%). The bacteria that predominated in sediments with high levels of Cd and As were Deltaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Coriobacteriia, Nitrososphaeria and Acidobacteria (Pomacocha), Alphaproteobacteria, Chitinophagia, Nitrospira and Clostridia (Tipicocha) and Betaproteobacteria (Tranca Grande). Finally, the results allow us to expand the current knowledge of microbial diversity in lake sediments contaminated with heavy metals and to identify bioindicators taxa of environmental quality that can be used in the monitoring and control of heavy metal contamination.

Ampliación de la distribución norte de Neoraimondia arequipensis subsp. gigantea (Werd. & Backeberg) Ostolaza / Expansion of the northern distribution of Neoraimondia arequipensis subsp. gigantea (Werd. & Backeberg) Ostolaza

Resumen Se registra Neoraimondia arequipensis subesp. gigantea en los bosques secos de Tumbes, ampliándose su distribución geográfica en el norte del Perú. Se realizó la identificación fenotípica de 70 individuos y genotípica basada en la secuenciación del gen matK (Maturase K gene). El hábitat de esta especie se caracteriza por la presencia de suelo de tipo pedregoso y rocoso, ubicados aledaños a zonas de quebradas y altitudes entre 20 a 60 m. Además, se registran observaciones de interacciones biológicas de este cactus con fauna y flora endémica del departamento de Tumbes.

Abstract Neoraimondia arequipensis subsp. gigantea is registered in the dry forests of Tumbes, expanding its geographical distribution in northern Peru, based on the phenotypic identification of 70 individuals and genotypic by sequencing the matK gene (Maturase K gene). The habitat of this species is characterized by the presence of stony and rocky soil, located adjacent to areas of ravines and altitudes between 20 to 60 meters above sea level. In addition, we include the record of biological interactions of this cactus with endemic fauna and flora of the department of Tumbes.

Metagenomic data on the composition of bacterial communities in lake environment sediments for fish farming by next generation Illumina sequencing.

This article contains data on the bacterial communities of lagoon sediments with fish potential in the Central Andes of Peru. The surface sediment samples were collected from four lagoons destined for continental water fish farming. DNA extraction was performed from 0.5 g of sample through the Presto™ Soil DNA Extraction Kit. Bacterial sequencing of the 16S rRNA amplicon was performed on the DNA extracted from the sediment. At least 36 Phyla bacteria were detected, the bacterial communities being dominated by Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi. These data can be used for predictive analysis to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of bacterial communities in environments under pressure from fish farming.

Data on the concentration of heavy metals and metalloids in lotic water of the Mantaro river watershed and human risk assessment, Peru.

This article contains data on the concentration of heavy metals and metalloids in the water of seven rivers in the Mantaro river watershed in the central Andes of Peru, collected during the autumn of 2019. The concentrations of Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn and As were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry to assess human risk. The concentration of heavy metals and arsenic varied according to the sector of the rivers evaluated. The cluster analysis identified four different groups among the observation sectors. The risk assessment for humans was conducted on the basis of exposure doses to heavy metals and arsenic in water by ingestion and dermal pathways, using standard methods established by USEPA. These data can be reused as a basis for estimating the cancer risk or as a comparison group for future risk studies. They can also be useful to public health policy makers when proposing surveillance and control programmes using remedial technologies.