Integrative spectroscopic, geochemical, and microbiological approaches for assessing uranium (U) speciation and microbial diversity in a U-impacted wetland
on average for U and Pb, respectively). A comparative analysis of the two areas showed no evidence of physiological stress or significant differences in root-associated prokaryotic communities for either of the two native plant species. In contrast, root-associated fungal communities and microbial assemblages in surrounding surface soils differed significantly between the sites. In the inherited U-rich soil layer below the surface a distinct microbial community was identified, characterized by lower diversity than that of the surface layer. This community included the ascomycetous genera Pseudorotium and Lulwoana, as well as bacteria involved in the sulphur (S) cycle (e.g., Desulfosporosinus, Desulfobacca), and the iron (Fe) cycle (e.g., Geobacteraceae, Geothrix, Clostridium, Gallionella, Thiobacillus), all potentially modulating U speciation and mobility. Finally, the detection of a U(VI) phosphate species in both the soil and the soil water, together with bacteria potentially able to form U-phosphate biominerals (e.g., Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Chryseobacterium), suggests a key role of microorganisms in U immobilization in this ecosystem.
Authors
- Jaime Gómez-Bolívar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6321-7002)
- Laureline Février (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5274-6846)
- Stéphane Ravanel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9475-4222)
- Robin Steudtner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3103-9587)
- Frédéric Coppin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2281-1915)
- Susanne Sachs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9097-9299)
- Jacques Bourguignon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7517-0600)
- Pascale Henner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0226-9065)
- Mohamed Larbi Merroun
- Frank Bok (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6885-2619)
- Ivan Aleksieienko (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2719-3365)
- Virginie Chapon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2365-3464)
- Antonio Martin Newman-Portela
Institutions
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (FR)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Universidad de Granada (ES)
- Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR)
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (DE)
- CEA Grenoble (FR)
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR)
- Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire de Grenoble (FR)
- Institut de Biosciences et Biotechnologies (FR)
- Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
- Published
- 2026-05-08
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120235
- Primary Topic
- Radioactive element chemistry and processing
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Euratom Research and Training Programme