Activity and diversity of microorganisms in environments extremely contaminated with heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn and Fe)

The aim of the research is to characterize the diversity and microbiological activity of soils formed on the surface of zinc-lead waste heaps, with natural plant cover (forest) and soils formed on much younger heaps (recultuvated by planted with larch), as well as to study the variability of communities inhabiting the top soil (up to 15 cm ) and the layer located from 15 to 30 cm below the surface. Soil physico-chemical parameters, enzymatic activity, the concentration of operational fractions of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Fe, Cd) will be also analyzed.