Structural and functional recovery of microbial biofilms after a decrease in copper exposure: Influence of the presence of pristine communities

• Published in: Aquatic toxicology Vol. 109; pp. 118 - 126
• Main Authors: Lambert, Anne-Sophie, Morin, Soizic, Artigas, Joan, Volat, Bernadette, Coquery, Marina, Neyra, Marc, Pesce, Stéphane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-03-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Algae; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Bacteria; Bacteria - drug effects; bacterial communities; Biodiversity; biofilm; Biofilms - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Chlorophyta - drug effects; community structure; Copper - analysis; Copper - toxicity; Diatoms; Diatoms - drug effects; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental Sciences; Enzymes - metabolism; exposure duration; Fresh Water - chemistry; Fresh Water - microbiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Immigration; Periphyton; Photosynthesis; PICT; Plant cytology, morphology, systematics, chorology and evolution; Thallophyta; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Immigration; Bacteria; Diatoms; Photosynthesis; Periphyton; PICT; Ecotoxicology; Toxicity; Algae; Heavy metal; Heterokontophyta; Aquatic environment; Pollutant; Bacillariophyta; Functional recovery; Biofilm; Microorganism; Copper; Community; DIATOMEE; BACTERIA; CUIVRE; IMMIGRATION; DIATOMS; BIOFILM; PERIPHYTON; PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• ISSN: 0166-445X; 1879-1514
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2011.12.006

► We tested the influence of microbial immigration in biofilm recovery after a Cu exposure. ► Recovery dynamics differed between phototrophic and heterotrophic communities. ► Microbial immigration enhanced the recovery of phototrophic communities. ► Heterotrophic community recovery slightly depended on microbial immigration processes.
The present study aimed at assessing the recovery of phototrophic and heterotrophic biofilm communities after a decrease in copper exposure. An original experiment was designed to evaluate the possible influence of non-exposed (i.e. pristine) communities (e.g. via immigration processes) in recovery dynamics. Laboratory channels were used to study the structural and functional changes in microbial communities after a 4-week Cu exposure period in the presence and absence of pristine biofilms. When pristine biofilms were present, phototrophic communities recovered within 6 weeks, both in terms of biomass, structure and photosynthetic activity. Recovery processes were also detected using the PICT approach. In contrast, in the absence of pristine communities, all of the Cu-induced changes recorded in the phototrophic communities remained throughout the recovery period.
Regardless of the presence or absence of pristine biofilms, the decrease in Cu exposure did not abolish Cu-induced changes in bacterial community structure, whereas functional recovery (based on beta-glucosidase activity) was complete in both recovery contexts.
These results revealed that microbial community response to a decrease in Cu exposure differs between phototrophic and heterotrophic communities. The presence of pristine communities greatly influences the structural and functional recovery of phototrophic communities, suggesting an important role of microbial immigration processes, but have far less influence on the recovery trajectory of heterotrophic communities.