A potential microbiological approach to the evaluation of earthquake-induced soil liquefaction

Ying Ting Chao; Sheng Hao Lai; Mei Hsun Chang; Chun Chi Chen; Wei Feng Lee; Jing Wen Chen; Yi Chiung Hsu

iScience (Sep 2021)

A potential microbiological approach to the evaluation of earthquake-induced soil liquefaction

Ying Ting Chao,
Sheng Hao Lai,
Mei Hsun Chang,
Chun Chi Chen,
Wei Feng Lee,
Jing Wen Chen,
Yi Chiung Hsu

Affiliations

Ying Ting Chao: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
Sheng Hao Lai: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
Mei Hsun Chang: Department of Civil Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
Chun Chi Chen: Department of Civil Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
Wei Feng Lee: Department of Civil Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
Jing Wen Chen: Department of Civil Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
Yi Chiung Hsu: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 24, no. 9
p. 102984

Abstract

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Summary: Earthquakes occur thousands of times every day around the world. They are naturally destructive seismic events and often result in soil liquefaction. Soil microbiota plays a vital role in soil environments and may serve as an effective indicator to assess soil liquefaction after earthquakes. This study aimed to detect the microbial community abundance and composition in soil samples of different depths. Soil samples were collected in Southern Taiwan immediately after the 2010 earthquake. Their physical characteristics were determined, and their microbial communities were analyzed through 16S amplicon sequencing. The results revealed that Nitrospirae phylum dominated in the liquefied layer. In particular, the genus HB118, dominant in the liquefied layer, was not detected at other soil depths or in the expelled liquefied soil. This finding not only provides valuable insights into changes in microbial community composition at different soil depths after earthquakes but also suggests a useful indicator for monitoring liquefied soil.

Published in iScience

ISSN: 2589-0042 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science
Website: http://www.cell.com/iscience/home

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