Wastewater microorganisms impact microbial diversity and important ecological functions of stream periphyton

• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119119
• Publication Date: 2022-09-14T23:35:18Z
• Authors: Louis Carles; Simon Wullschleger; Adriano Joss; Rik I.L. Eggen; Kristin Schirmer; Nele Schuwirth; Christian Stamm; Ahmed Tlili
• Keywords: Periphyton

Effluents of wastewater treatment plants can impact microbial communities in the receiving streams. However, little is known about role microorganisms as opposed to other constituents, such nutrients and micropollutants. We aimed therefore at determining on diversity function periphyton, key used a flow-through channel system grow periphyton upon exposure mixture stream water unfiltered or ultra-filtered wastewater. Impacts were assessed biomass, activities tolerance micropollutants, well diversity. Our results showed that colonized modified its community composition, resulting for instance an increased abundance Chloroflexi decreased diatoms green algae. This led shifts towards heterotrophy, suggested by changes nutrient stoichiometry mineralization potential carbon substrates. An micropollutants was only found exposed but not wastewater, suggesting responsible this tolerance. Overall, our highlight need consider when studying impacts body.