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Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2005 | Volume: 5 | Issue: 6 | Page No.: 703-706
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Authors

M.C. Anongo

S.P. Bako

A.U. Ezealor

Keywords

Research Article

Trace Metal Content in Relation to Population of Microorganisms in Soils along Some Highways in Nigeria’s Guinea Savanna

M.C. Anongo, S.P. Bako and A.U. Ezealor
Soil samples from three different locations in the Nigerian Guinea Savanna were analyzed in a study of the relationship between soil trace metal levels and soil microbes with respect to distance from the roadside and season. The three different sites were selected based on their vehicular traffic density. Soil microbes were analyzed by pathological techniques while trace metal levels (Pb, As, Zn, Cu, Co, Br and Ni) were analyzed using the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Populations of soil microbes increased with increasing distance from the roadway, while metal contents decreased with increasing distance from the roadway for both dry and wet seasons. The soil microbes and trace metal content were higher for the wet season than for the dry season. Interactions between soil microbe populations and trace metal contents were statistically highly significant (p=0.05 and p=0.01) for season, location and interaction of distance, season and location. The mean increase of soil microbes between the dry and wet season were also highly significant. Five species of fungi were identified. Aspergillus sp., Monilia sp., Penicillium sp., Helminthosporium sp. and Rhizoctonia sp. while the bacteria were mainly Bacillus sp. These species responded to the presence of trace metals in the soil and may thus serve as microbial indicator species for metal pollution levels in the Nigerian Savanna.
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