Shifts in microbial community structure and function in surface waters impacted by unconventional oil and gas wastewater revealed by metagenomics

Fahrenfeld, Nicole; Reyes, Hannah Delos; Eramo, Alessia; Akob, Denise M.; Mumford, Adam C.; Cozzarelli, Isabelle M.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.079

Cited by 41 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Similarly, an increase in salinity, as would occur following a release of produced waters, can have lethal effects on fish (36,37). Case studies following releases of produced water have suggested the potential for such releases to effect microbial community structure and function (29,38); several studies detailing experimental exposures to components of hydraulic fracturing fluid and produced water have demonstrated this potential for alterations to microbial communities (39)(40)(41). Furthermore, produced water and produced water impoundment ponds have distinct microbial populations (13,(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47), suggesting that microbial community profiles may have a potential utility as biological tracers for produced water.…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Shale gas development has limited effects on stream biology and geochemistry in a gradient-based, multiparameter study in Pennsylvania

Mumford

Maloney

Akob

et al. 2020

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The number of horizontally drilled shale oil and gas wells in the United States has increased from nearly 28,000 in 2007 to nearly 127,000 in 2017, and research has suggested the potential for the development of shale resources to affect nearby stream ecosystems. However, the ability to generalize current studies is limited by the small geographic scope as well as limited breadth and integration of measured chemical and biological indicators parameters. This study tested the hypothesis that a quantifiable, significant relationship exists between the density of oil and gas (OG) development, increasing stream water concentrations of known geochemical tracers of OG extraction, and the composition of benthic macroinvertebrate and microbial communities. Twenty-five headwater streams that drain lands across a gradient of shale gas development intensity were sampled. Our strategy included comprehensive measurements across multiple seasons of sampling to account for temporal variability of geochemical parameters, including known shale OG geochemical tracers, and microbial and benthic macroinvertebrate communities. No significant relationships were found between the intensity of OG development, shale OG geochemical tracers, or benthic macroinvertebrate or microbial community composition, whereas significant seasonal differences in stream chemistry were observed. These results highlight the importance of considering spatial and temporal variability in stream chemistry and biota and not only the presence of anthropogenic activities in a watershed. This comprehensive, integrated study of geochemical and biological variability of headwater streams in watersheds undergoing OG development provides a robust framework for examining the effects of energy development at a regional scale.

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Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Shale gas development has limited effects on stream biology and geochemistry in a gradient-based, multiparameter study in Pennsylvania

Mumford

Maloney

Akob

et al. 2020

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…While some studies have begun to assess environmental impacts of fracking 31 – 36 , recent studies have also indicated that robust microbial communities exist within fracking-associated fluids 37 , 38 . Microbial communities are integral to degrading and metabolizing many of the complex compounds found in the injected and flowback fluids.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of Aquatic Bacterial Communities to Hydraulic Fracturing in Northwestern Pennsylvania: A Five-Year Study

Ulrich

Kirchner

Drucker

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing extraction procedures have become increasingly present in Pennsylvania where the Marcellus Shale play is largely located. The potential for long-term environmental impacts to nearby headwater stream ecosystems and aquatic bacterial assemblages is still incompletely understood. Here, we perform high-throughput sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene to characterize the bacterial community structure of water, sediment, and other environmental samples (n = 189) from 31 headwater stream sites exhibiting different histories of fracking activity in northwestern Pennsylvania over five years (2012–2016). Stream pH was identified as a main driver of bacterial changes within the streams and fracking activity acted as an environmental selector for certain members at lower taxonomic levels within stream sediment. Methanotrophic and methanogenic bacteria (i.e. Methylocystaceae, Beijerinckiaceae, and Methanobacterium) were significantly enriched in sites exhibiting Marcellus shale activity (MSA+) compared to MSA− streams. This study highlighted potential sentinel taxa associated with nascent Marcellus shale activity and some of these taxa remained as stable biomarkers across this five-year study. Identifying the presence and functionality of specific microbial consortia within fracking-impacted streams will provide a clearer understanding of the natural microbial community’s response to fracking and inform in situ remediation strategies.

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“…Recent studies have shown a relationship between proximity to UOG wells and alterations in microbial community structure (44), as well as linkages between geochemistry and microbial community structure in produced water from UOG wells (45)(46)(47). A recent group of studies demonstrated that a class II UIC facility in West Virginia used for the disposal of UOG wastewater resulted in changes to stream biogeochemistry (48,49), caused endocrine-disrupting activities of surface waters and sediments (48)(49)(50), and altered microbial community dynamics (48,51). Stream waters and sediments from the site had elevated concentrations of Cl Ϫ and Sr, indicative of exposure to UOG wastewaters (19,48).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Orem et al reported that stream water and streambed sediment immediately downstream from the facility contained a variety of organic compounds, including a wide range of petroleum hydrocarbons and solvents associated with oil and gas production (49). Microbial communities clearly differed in structure downstream from the facility from those upstream, suggesting the potential for UOG wastewaters to influence microbial populations which could play a crucial role in the fate and transport of organic and inorganic components of UOG wastewater (48,51). Although these studies demonstrated the potential for UOG wastewater to alter microbial community structure, they did not determine which components of UOG wastewater could be microbially degraded or the effects that individual components could have on microbial community structure and function.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Common Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Additives Alter the Structure and Function of Anaerobic Microbial Communities

Mumford

Akob

Klinges

et al. 2018

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The development of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) resources results in the production of large volumes of wastewater containing a complex mixture of hydraulic fracturing chemical additives and components from the formation. The release of these wastewaters into the environment poses potential risks that are poorly understood. Microbial communities in stream sediments form the base of the food chain and may serve as sentinels for changes in stream health. Iron-reducing organisms have been shown to play a role in the biodegradation of a wide range of organic compounds, and so to evaluate their response to UOG wastewater, we enriched anaerobic microbial communities from sediments collected upstream (background) and downstream (impacted) of an UOG wastewater injection disposal facility in the presence of hydraulic fracturing fluid (HFF) additives: guar gum, ethylene glycol, and two biocides, 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA) and bronopol (CHBrNO). Iron reduction was significantly inhibited early in the incubations with the addition of biocides, whereas amendment with guar gum and ethylene glycol stimulated iron reduction relative to levels in the unamended controls. Changes in the microbial community structure were observed across all treatments, indicating the potential for even small amounts of UOG wastewater components to influence natural microbial processes. The microbial community structure differed between enrichments with background and impacted sediments, suggesting that impacted sediments may have been preconditioned by exposure to wastewater. These experiments demonstrated the potential for biocides to significantly decrease iron reduction rates immediately following a spill and demonstrated how microbial communities previously exposed to UOG wastewater may be more resilient to additional spills. Organic components of UOG wastewater can alter microbial communities and biogeochemical processes, which could alter the rates of essential natural attenuation processes. These findings provide new insights into microbial responses following a release of UOG wastewaters and are critical for identifying strategies for the remediation and natural attenuation of impacted environments.

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Shifts in microbial community structure and function in surface waters impacted by unconventional oil and gas wastewater revealed by metagenomics

Cited by 41 publications

References 42 publications

Shale gas development has limited effects on stream biology and geochemistry in a gradient-based, multiparameter study in Pennsylvania

Shale gas development has limited effects on stream biology and geochemistry in a gradient-based, multiparameter study in Pennsylvania

Response of Aquatic Bacterial Communities to Hydraulic Fracturing in Northwestern Pennsylvania: A Five-Year Study

Common Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Additives Alter the Structure and Function of Anaerobic Microbial Communities

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