Local monitoring of saprotrophic bacterial complexes of urban soils in Syktyvkar in 2019 and 2020

Abstract

Abundance and diversity of soil saprotrophic bacteria complexes were monitored for two years on the territory of one of the large industrial cities of the European North of Russia, Syktyvkar. The work was carried out before and after quarantine in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. The capital of Komi is characterized by a high population, and by tense environmental conditions according to the ecological standard. Studies were conducted in 2019—2020. Topsoils (0—10 cm) of urbanozems, horizon A in the park area in the urban space, as well as zonal undisturbed podzolic soil were analyzed. Comparison of the two)year monitoring results demonstrated a marked increase in the number and diversity of saprotro) phic bacteria complexes in 2020 both in urban and control soils (topsoil, 0—10 cm).

Detailed studies of Enterobacteriaceae demonstrated a decrease in the share of opportunistic (Enterobacter agglomerans, Citrobacter europaeus, Klebsiella oxytoca, Serratia marcescens, etc.) as well as fecal coliforms (Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis) in urbanozems in 2020 — a consequence of a sharp and prolonged decrease in the anthropogenic impact on the environment. It can be viewed as a manifestation of the soil ability to “self-purification” when anthropogenic impact on the environment reduces.