Toxic effects induced by salt stress on selected freshwater prokaryotic and eukaryotic microalgal species

Salt pollution reduces turbidity, dissolved organic matter, and cyanobacteria in experimental vernal pool communities

Anthropogenic activities such as the over-application of road deicers are causing an increase in the concentration of salts in historically fresh waters. Experimental and field investigations demonstrate that freshwater salinization disrupts ecosystem functions and services, causing the death of freshwater organisms and changes to nutrient conditions. Wetland habitats are one system negatively affected by salt pollution, including ephemeral wetlands (vernal pools) that fill with salt-polluted water after snowmelt. In urbanized areas, the degradation of these ecosystems could result in irreversible ecological damage including reduced water quality and a reduction in biodiversity. To investigate the effects of freshwater salinization on vernal pool communities, we exposed soils from vernal pools to water containing no salt (control), or four concentrations of three salts standardized by chloride concentration (50 mg Cl- L-1, 100 mg Cl- L-1, 200 mg Cl- L-1, and 400 mg Cl- L-1; magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and sodium chloride). The results of this experiment suggest that emerging zooplankton communities in vernal pools are sensitive to low concentrations of salt pollution, and that alternative salts such as magnesium chloride and calcium chloride are more toxic than sodium chloride. We did not find positive or negative changes in the abundance of eukaryotic phytoplankton but did find negative effects of salt on cyanobacteria abundance, possibly due to corresponding reductions in turbidity which might be needed as a fixation site for cyanobacteria to form heterocysts. Finally, we found that salt pollution likely caused flocculation of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM), resulting in reduced concentrations of DOM which could alter the buffering capacity of freshwater systems, light attenuation, and the populations of planktonic heterotrophs.

Influence of salinity, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of two Chlorophyceae isolated from Fez freshwater, Morocco

Microalgae are widely exploited for numerous biotechnology applications, including biofuels. In this context, Chlamydomonas debaryana and Chlorococcum sp. were isolated from Fez freshwater (Morocco), and their growth and lipid and carbohydrate production were assessed at different concentrations of NaCl, NaNO3, and K2HPO4. The results indicate a small positive variation in growth parameters linked to nutrient enrichment, with no considerable variation in carbohydrate and lipid levels in both algae. Moreover, a negative variation was recorded at increased salinity and nutrient limitation, accompanied by lipid and carbohydrate accumulation. Chlorococcum sp. showed better adaptation to salt stress below 200 mM NaCl. Furthermore, its growth and biomass productivity were strongly reduced by nitrogen depletion, and its lipid production reached 47.64% DW at 3.52 mM NaNO3. As for Chlamydomonas debaryana, a substantial reduction in growth was induced by nutrient depletion, a maximal carbohydrate level was produced at less than 8.82 mM NaNO3 (40.59% DW). The effect of phosphorus was less significant. However, a concentration of 0.115 mM K2HPO4 increased lipid and carbohydrate content without compromising biomass productivity. The results suggest that growing the two Chlorophyceae under these conditions seems interesting for biofuel production, but the loss of biomass requires a more efficient strategy to maximize lipid and carbohydrate accumulation without loss of productivity.

Changes of the Freshwater Microbial Community Structure and Assembly Processes during Different Sample Storage Conditions

A long-standing dilemma for microbial analyses is how to handle and store samples, as it is widely assumed that the microbial diversity and community patterns would be affected by sample storage conditions. However, it is quite challenging to maintain consistency in field sampling, especially for water sample collection and storage. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of how sample storage conditions impact microbial community analyses and the magnitude of the potential storage effects, freshwater samples were collected and stored in bottles with lid closed and without lid at room temperature for up to 6 days. We revealed the dynamics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities under different storage conditions over time. The eukaryotic microbial communities changed at a faster rate than the prokaryotic microbial communities during storage. The alpha diversity of the eukaryotic microbial communities was not substantially influenced by container status or storage time for up to 12 h, but the beta diversity differed significantly between the control and all treatment samples. By contrast, no significant changes of either the alpha or beta diversity of the prokaryotic microbial communities were observed within 12 h of room-temperature storage, regardless of the container status. The potential interactions between microbial taxa were more complex when samples were stored in sealed bottles, and the deterministic processes played an increasingly important role in shaping the freshwater microbial communities with storage time. Our results suggest that water samples collected and stored without refrigeration for no more than 12 h may still be useful for downstream analyses of prokaryotic microbial communities. If the eukaryotic microbial communities are desired, storage of water samples should be limited to 3 h at room temperature.

Response of Prokaryotic Communities to Freshwater Salinization

Each year, millions of tons of sodium chloride are dumped on roads, contributing to the salinization of freshwater environments. Thus, we sought to understand the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) on freshwater lake prokaryotic communities, an important and understudied component of food webs. Using mesocosms with 0.01–2.74 ppt NaCl (0.27–1110.86 mg/L Cl−), we evaluated the effect generated on the diversity and absolute abundance of prokaryotic populations after three and six weeks. A positive relationship between Cl− values and absolute bacterial abundance was found after three weeks. The influence of eukaryotic diversity variation was observed as well. Significant differentiation of bacterial communities starting at 420 mg/L Cl− was observed after three weeks, levels lower than the Canadian and US recommendations for acute chloride exposure. The partial recovery of a “pre-disturbance” community was observed following a drop in salinity at the threshold level of 420 mg/L Cl−. A gradual transition of dominance from Betaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria to Bacteroidia and Alphaproteobacteria was observed and is overall similar to the natural transition observed in estuaries.

Biochemical responses of the freshwater microalga Dictyosphaerium sp. upon exposure to three sulfonamides

Sulfonamides (SAs) are common antimicrobial drugs, which are frequently detected in surface water systems, and are difficult to degrade, posing a potential threat to the aquatic environment. However, little is known about the potential adverse effects of SAs on non-target organisms (e.g., microalgae) in the aquatic ecosystem. In this study, the effect of SAs (sulfadiazine (SD), sulfamerazine (SM1), and sulfamethazine (SM2) at 1, 5, 20, and 50 mg/L concentrations, respectively) on the freshwater microalga Dictyosphaerium sp. was investigated, with respect to changes of biomass and chlorophyll a content and induction of extracellular polymer substances (EPS), including protein and polysaccharide contents. At the same time, the residue of SAs was determined. The results showed that Dictyosphaerium sp. was tolerant to the three SAs, and the chlorophyll a content in Dictyosphaerium sp. significantly decreased on day 7, followed by a "compensation phenomena". The increase in protein and polysaccharide contents played a defensive role in Dictyosphaerium sp. against antibiotic stress, and there was a strong positive correlation between polysaccharide contents and antibiotic concentrations. Dictyosphaerium sp. exhibited 35%-45%, 30%-42%, and 26%-51% removal of SD, SM1, and SM2, respectively. This study is helpful to understand the changes of EPS in the defense process of microalgae under the action of antibiotics, and provides a new insight for the ecological removal of antibiotic pollution in natural surface water system.

Physiological and Metabolic Responses of Freshwater and Brackish-Water Strains of Microcystis aeruginosa Acclimated to a Salinity Gradient: Insight into Salt Tolerance

Proliferation of microcystin (MC)-producing Microcystis aeruginosa in brackish waters has been described in several locations and represents a new concern for public and environmental health. While the impact of a sudden salinity increase on M. aeruginosa physiology has been studied, less is known about the mechanisms involved in salt tolerance after acclimation. This study aims to compare the physiological responses of two strains of M. aeruginosa (PCC 7820 and PCC 7806), which were isolated from contrasted environments, to increasing salinities. After acclimation, growth and MC production rates were determined and metabolomic analyses were conducted. For both strains, salinity decreased the biovolume, growth, and MC production rates and induced the accumulation of polyunsaturated lipids identified as monogalactosyldiacylglycerol. The distinct salt tolerances (7.5 and 16.9) obtained between the freshwater (PCC 7820) and the brackish-water (PCC 7806) strains suggested different strategies to cope with the osmotic pressure, as revealed by targeted and untargeted metabolomic analyses. An accumulation of trehalose as the main compatible solute was obtained in the freshwater strain, while sucrose was mainly accumulated in the brackish one. Moreover, distinct levels of glycine betaine and proline accumulation were noted. Altogether, metabolomic analysis illustrated a strain-specific response to salt tolerance, involving compatible solute production.IMPORTANCE Blooms of Microcystis aeruginosa and the production of microcystins are major issues in eutrophic freshwater bodies. Recently, an increasing number of proliferations of M. aeruginosa in brackish water has been documented. The occurrence of both M. aeruginosa and microcystins in coastal areas represents a new threat for human and environmental health. In order to better describe the mechanisms involved in Microcystis sp. proliferation in brackish water, this study used two M. aeruginosa strains isolated from fresh and brackish waters. High salinity reduced the growth rate and microcystin production rate of M. aeruginosa In order to cope with higher salinities, the strains accumulated different cyanobacterial compatible solutes, as well as unsaturated lipids, explaining their distinct salt tolerance.

Characterization of multiple biomarker responses using flow cytometry to improve environmental hazard assessment with the green microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata

Microalgal toxicity tests using integrative endpoints as algal growth are regularly required to analyse the toxicity of potentially hazardous substances in the aquatic environment. However, these do not provide mechanistic information on the toxic mode of action by which contaminants may affect algae. Bottled waters can be used as a substitute for culturing media and should not impose any stress to the cultured organisms. However, certain chemical components can interfere with specific cell targets which are not revealed by general toxicity assays. The present study investigated the sensitivity of flow cytometry (FCM) to analyse sub-lethal effects of different bottled waters to the freshwater microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata. Several endpoints were analysed including growth rate, natural pigments content, cell size, complexity, viability and cycle, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) formation, mitochondrial membrane potential and Lipid Peroxidation (LPO). Additionally, photosystem II (PSII) performance was analysed by PAM fluorometry, to provide further information on the absorption, distribution and use of energy in photosynthesis. Results indicated that the most sensitive endpoints were the oxidative stress related endpoints ROS formation and LPO, pigment content, morphological endpoints as cell size, complexity and cycle, with growth rate being one of the least sensitive. Although being essential macronutrients for algal growth, the chemical elements Ca, Na, Mg, and NH₄ were identified as being primarily responsible for the observed toxicological effects to exposed algae. The applied methodology proved to be of high throughput, simultaneously assembling information on morphological, biochemical, and physiological status of algal cells. FCM also showed potential to reveal mechanistic information on the toxic mode of action of the bottled waters before any effects on algal growth was observed. The used approach demonstrated its potential for being integrated into future microalgal toxicity bioassays for testing chemicals to improve the hazard information obtained from currently approved internationally accepted test guidelines.

Biodiversity impacts from salinity increase in a coastal wetland

A Life Cycle Impact Assessment method was developed to evaluate the environmental impact associated with salinity on biodiversity in a Spanish coastal wetland. The developed characterization factor consists of a fate and an effect factor and equals 3.16 × 10(-1) ± 1.84 × 10(-1) PAF · m(3) · yr · m(-3) (PAF: Potentially Affected Fraction of species) indicating a "potential loss of 0.32 m(3) ecosystem" for a water consumption rate of 1 m(3) · yr(-1). As a result of groundwater consumption with a rate of 1 m(3) · yr(-1), the PAF in the lost cubic meter of ecosystem equals 0.05, which has been proposed as the maximum tolerable effect to keep the ecosystem intact. The fate factor was calculated from seasonal water balances of the wetland Albufera de Adra. The effect factor was obtained from the fitted curve of the potentially affected fraction of native wetland species due to salinity and can be applied to other wetlands with similar species composition. In order to test the applicability of the characterization factor, an assessment of water consumption of greenhouse crops in the area was conducted as a case study. Results converted into ecosystem quality damage using the ReCiPe method were compared to other categories. While tomatoes are responsible for up to 30% of the impact of increased salinity due to water consumption on ecosystem quality in the studied area, melons have the largest impact per tonne produced.