Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Soil Sciences: Phytoremediation and Ecosystem Bioindicators

Description

This lecture covers the biological processes involved in soil decontamination, such as phytodegradation and phytostabilization, using living organisms to remove pollutants. It also explores ecosystem bioindicators, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, that reveal environmental changes.

This video is available exclusively on Mediaspace for a restricted audience. Please log in to MediaSpace to access it if you have the necessary permissions.

Watch on Mediaspace

Instructors (3)

David Andrew Barry

Research InterestsSubsurface hydrology, constructed wetlands, ecological engineering, in particular contaminant transport and remediation of soil and groundwater; more generally, models of hydrological and vadose zone processes; application of mathematical methods to hydrological processes; coastal zone sediment transport, aquifer-coastal ocean interactions; hydrodynamics and modelling of lakes.

Géraldine Michèle Bullinger

Gabriele Manoli

Official source

Related concepts (11)

Soil contamination

Soil contamination, soil pollution, or land pollution as a part of land degradation is caused by the presence of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. It is typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals or improper disposal of waste. The most common chemicals involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (such as naphthalene and benzo(a)pyrene), solvents, pesticides, lead, and other heavy metals.

Phytoremediation

Phytoremediation technologies use living plants to clean up soil, air and water contaminated with hazardous contaminants. It is defined as "the use of green plants and the associated microorganisms, along with proper soil amendments and agronomic techniques to either contain, remove or render toxic environmental contaminants harmless". The term is an amalgam of the Greek phyto (plant) and Latin remedium (restoring balance).

Bioindicator

A bioindicator is any species (an indicator species) or group of species whose function, population, or status can reveal the qualitative status of the environment. The most common indicator species are animals. For example, copepods and other small water crustaceans that are present in many water bodies can be monitored for changes (biochemical, physiological, or behavioural) that may indicate a problem within their ecosystem.

Agricultural pollution

Agricultural pollution refers to biotic and abiotic byproducts of farming practices that result in contamination or degradation of the environment and surrounding ecosystems, and/or cause injury to humans and their economic interests. The pollution may come from a variety of sources, ranging from point source water pollution (from a single discharge point) to more diffuse, landscape-level causes, also known as non-point source pollution and air pollution. Once in the environment these pollutants can have both direct effects in surrounding ecosystems, i.

Nonpoint source pollution

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution refers to diffuse contamination (or pollution) of water or air that does not originate from a single discrete source. This type of pollution is often the cumulative effect of small amounts of contaminants gathered from a large area. It is in contrast to point source pollution which results from a single source. Nonpoint source pollution generally results from land runoff, precipitation, atmospheric deposition, drainage, seepage, or hydrological modification (rainfall and snowmelt) where tracing pollution back to a single source is difficult.

Related lectures (12)

Environmental Legislation and Soil Protection

Explores environmental legislation, soil contamination, and remediation strategies, emphasizing the importance of protecting soil fertility and public health.

Surface water contaminants

Explores the pollution of surface water by contaminants like nitrogen, mercury, and atrazine, emphasizing the challenges posed by emerging pollutants from urban areas.

Environmental Legislation: Soil Protection and Regulations

Explores soil protection, legislation, and strategies to prevent soil degradation and pollution in Switzerland.

ReCLEAN: Nitrogen Impacts and Climate Nexus

Introduces the ReCLEAN Joint Initiative, focusing on the impact of reactive nitrogen at the Climate, Energy, Agriculture, Water, and Health Nexus.

Urban Pollution Monitoring