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Microbial ecological succession during municipal solid waste decomposition

  • Environmental biotechnology
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Abstract

The decomposition of landfilled refuse proceeds through distinct phases, each defined by varying environmental factors such as volatile fatty acid concentration, pH, and substrate quality. The succession of microbial communities in response to these changing conditions was monitored in a laboratory-scale simulated landfill to minimize measurement difficulties experienced at field scale. 16S rRNA gene sequences retrieved at separate stages of decomposition showed significant succession in both Bacteria and methanogenic Archaea. A majority of Bacteria sequences in landfilled refuse belong to members of the phylum Firmicutes, while Proteobacteria levels fluctuated and Bacteroidetes levels increased as decomposition proceeded. Roughly 44% of archaeal sequences retrieved under conditions of low pH and high acetate were strictly hydrogenotrophic (Methanomicrobiales, Methanobacteriales). Methanosarcina was present at all stages of decomposition. Correspondence analysis showed bacterial population shifts were attributed to carboxylic acid concentration and solids hydrolysis, while archaeal populations were affected to a higher degree by pH. T-RFLP analysis showed specific taxonomic groups responded differently and exhibited unique responses during decomposition, suggesting that species composition and abundance within Bacteria and Archaea are highly dynamic. This study shows landfill microbial demographics are highly variable across both spatial and temporal transects.

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Acknowledgements

Waste Management, Inc. provided funding for this research. Bryan Staley was partially supported by a Francois Feissinger scholarship from the Environmental Research and Education Foundation.

Funding

This study was funded by Waste Management, Inc. (USA). Bryan Staley was partially supported by a Francois Feissinger scholarship from the Environmental Research and Education Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Research and Education Foundation, Raleigh, NC, USA

    Bryan F. Staley

  2. Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7908, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7908, USA

    Francis L. de los Reyes III, Ling Wang & Morton A. Barlaz

Authors
  1. Bryan F. Staley
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  2. Francis L. de los Reyes III
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  3. Ling Wang
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  4. Morton A. Barlaz
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Correspondence to Francis L. de los Reyes III.

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Bryan Staley is currently President of the Environmental Research and Education Foundation, which provided him a scholarship at the time of the study. Francis L. de los Reyes II declares that he has no conflict of interest. Ling Wang declares she has no conflict of interest. Morton A. Barlaz declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals, performed by any of the authors.

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Staley, B.F., de los Reyes, F.L., Wang, L. et al. Microbial ecological succession during municipal solid waste decomposition. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 102, 5731–5740 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-018-9014-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-018-9014-5

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