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Merbt SN, Kroll A, Sgier L, Tlili A, Schirmer K, Behra R. Fate and effects of microplastic particles in a periphyton-grazer system. Environ Pollut 2024; 347:123798. [PMID: 38492748 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
In the aquatic environment, microplastic particles (MP) can accumulate in microbial communities that cover submerged substrata, i.e. in periphyton. Despite periphyton being the essential food source for grazers in the benthic zones, MP transfer from periphyton to benthic biota and its ecotoxicological consequences are unknown. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of 1) MP on embryonal development of freshwater gastropod Physa acuta embryos, 2) MP on adult Physa acuta individuals through dietary exposure and 3) on the MP surface properties. Embryonal development tests were carried out with spherical polyethylene MP in the size of 1-4 μm (MP). Over a period of 28 days, embryonal development and hatching rate were calculated. In the feeding experiments, periphyton was grown in the presence and absence of MP and was then offered to the adult Physa acuta for 42-152 h. The snails readily ingested and subsequently egested MP, together with the periphyton as shown by MP quantification in periphyton, snail soft body tissue and feces. No selective feeding behavior upon MP exposure was detected. The ingestion of MP had no effect on mortality, feeding and defecation rate. Yet, the reproductive output of snails, measured as the number of egg clutches and numbers of eggs per clutch, decreased after the ingestion of MPs, while the hatching success of snail embryos those parents were exposed remained unaffected. In contrast, hatching rate of snail embryos was significantly reduced upon direct MP exposure. MP optical properties were changed upon the incorporation into the periphyton and the passage through the digestive tract. Our results indicate that MP incorporated in periphyton are bioavailable to aquatic grazers, facilitating the introduction of MP into the food chain and having direct adverse effects on the grazers' reproductive fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie N Merbt
- Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Ceab.CSIC Centre D'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Access a La Cala St, Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain.
| | - Alexandra Kroll
- Swiss Centre for Applied Ecotoxicology, Ueberlandstrasse 133, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Linn Sgier
- Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Ahmed Tlili
- Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Kristin Schirmer
- Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; EPF Lausanne, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland; ETH Zürich, Department of Environmental Systems Science, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Renata Behra
- Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Aegetswil 4, 8492, Wila, Switzerland
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Merbt SN, Proia L, Prosser JI, Martí E, Casamayor EO, von Schiller D. Stream drying drives microbial ammonia oxidation and first-flush nitrate export. Ecology 2018; 97:2192-2198. [PMID: 27859084 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Revised: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Stream microbial communities and associated processes are influenced by environmental fluctuations that may ultimately dictate nutrient export. Discharge fluctuations caused by intermittent stream flow are increasing worldwide in response to global change. We examined the impact of flow cessation and drying on in-stream nitrogen cycling. We determined archaeal (AOA) and bacterial ammonia oxidizer (AOB) abundance and ammonia oxidation activity in surface and deep sediments from different sites along the Fuirosos stream (Spain) subjected to contrasting hydrological conditions (i.e., running water, isolated pools, and dry streambeds). AOA were more abundant than AOB, with no major changes across hydrological conditions or sediment layers. However, ammonia oxidation activity and sediment nitrate content increased with the degree of stream drying, especially in surface sediments. Upscaling of our results shows that ammonia oxidation in dry streambeds can contribute considerably (~50%) to the high nitrate export typically observed in intermittent streams during first-flush events following flow reconnection. Our study illustrates how the dry channels of intermittent streams can be potential hotspots of ammonia oxidation. Consequently, shifts in the duration, spatial extent and severity of intermittent flow can play a decisive role in shaping nitrogen cycling and export along fluvial networks in response to global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie N Merbt
- Eawag-Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Department of Environmental Toxicology, Überlandstrasse 133 Postfach 611, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Lorenzo Proia
- Catalan Institute for Water Research, Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain.,Ecology of Aquatic Systems, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Boulevard du Triomphe, B-1050, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - James I Prosser
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, United Kingdom
| | - Eugènia Martí
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, CEAB-CSIC, Accés a la Cala St. Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain
| | - Emilio O Casamayor
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, CEAB-CSIC, Accés a la Cala St. Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain
| | - Daniel von Schiller
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, PO Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
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Abstract
Biofilms are dynamic consortia of microorganism that play a key role in freshwater ecosystems. By changing their community structure, biofilms respond quickly to environmental changes and can be thus used as indicators of water quality. Currently, biofilm assessment is mostly based on integrative and functional endpoints, such as photosynthetic or respiratory activity, which do not provide information on the biofilm community structure. Flow cytometry and computational visualization offer an alternative, sensitive, and easy-to-use method for assessment of the community composition, particularly of the photoautotrophic part of freshwater biofilms. It requires only basic sample preparation, after which the entire sample is run through the flow cytometer. The single-cell optical and fluorescent information is used for computational visualization and biological interpretation. Its main advantages over other methods are the speed of analysis and the high-information-content nature. Flow cytometry provides information on several cellular and biofilm traits in a single measurement: particle size, density, pigment content, abiotic content in the biofilm, and coarse taxonomic information. However, it does not provide information on biofilm composition on the species level. We see high potential in the use of the method for environmental monitoring of aquatic ecosystems and as an initial biofilm evaluation step that informs downstream detailed investigations by complementary and more detailed methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linn Sgier
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology
| | - Stephanie N Merbt
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology
| | - Ahmed Tlili
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology
| | - Alexandra Kroll
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology
| | - Anze Zupanic
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology;
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Restrepo-Ortiz CX, Merbt SN, Barrero-Canossa J, Fuchs BM, Casamayor EO. Development of a 16S rRNA-targeted fluorescence in situ hybridization probe for quantification of the ammonia-oxidizer Nitrosotalea devanaterra and its relatives. Syst Appl Microbiol 2018; 41:408-413. [PMID: 29747878 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Thaumarchaeota SAGMCG-1 group and, in particular, members of the genus Nitrosotalea have high occurrence in acidic soils, the rhizosphere, groundwater and oligotrophic lakes, and play a potential role in nitrogen cycling. In this study, the specific oligonucleotide fluorescence in situ hybridization probe SAG357 was designed for this Thaumarchaeota group based on the available 16S rRNA gene sequences in databases, and included the ammonia-oxidizing species Nitrosotalea devanaterra. Cell permeabilization for catalyzed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ detection and the hybridization conditions were optimized on enrichment cultures of the target species N. devanaterra, as well as the non-target ammonia-oxidizing archaeon Nitrosopumilus maritimus. Probe specificity was improved with a competitor oligonucleotide, and fluorescence intensity and cell visualization were enhanced by the design and application of two adjacent helpers. Probe performance was tested in soil samples along a pH gradient, and counting results matched the expected in situ distributions. Probe SAG357 and the CARD-FISH protocol developed in the present study will help to improve the current understanding of the ecology and physiology of N. devanaterra and its relatives in natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- C X Restrepo-Ortiz
- Center of Advanced Studies of Blanes, CEAB-CSIC, Accés Cala Sant Francesc, 14, Blanes, Spain
| | - S N Merbt
- Center of Advanced Studies of Blanes, CEAB-CSIC, Accés Cala Sant Francesc, 14, Blanes, Spain
| | - J Barrero-Canossa
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, Bremen, Germany
| | - B M Fuchs
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, Bremen, Germany
| | - E O Casamayor
- Center of Advanced Studies of Blanes, CEAB-CSIC, Accés Cala Sant Francesc, 14, Blanes, Spain.
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Peipoch M, Gacia E, Bastias E, Serra A, Proia L, Ribot M, Merbt SN, Martí E. Small-scale heterogeneity of microbial N uptake in streams and its implications at the ecosystem level. Ecology 2016; 97:1329-44. [DOI: 10.1890/15-1210.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Peipoch
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group; Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC); Blanes 17300 Spain
| | - Esperança Gacia
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group; Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC); Blanes 17300 Spain
| | - Elliot Bastias
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group; Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC); Blanes 17300 Spain
| | - Alexandra Serra
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group; Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC); Blanes 17300 Spain
| | - Lorenzo Proia
- Catalan Institute for Water Research; Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona; Girona 17003 Spain
| | - Miquel Ribot
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group; Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC); Blanes 17300 Spain
| | - Stephanie N. Merbt
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group; Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC); Blanes 17300 Spain
| | - Eugènia Martí
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group; Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC); Blanes 17300 Spain
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Merbt SN, Auguet JC, Blesa A, Martí E, Casamayor EO. Wastewater treatment plant effluents change abundance and composition of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in mediterranean urban stream biofilms. Microb Ecol 2015; 69:66-74. [PMID: 25062836 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-014-0464-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/09/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Streams affected by wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents are hotspots of nitrification. We analyzed the influence of WWTP inputs on the abundance, distribution, and composition of epilithic ammonia-oxidizing (AO) assemblages in five Mediterranean urban streams by qPCR and amoA gene cloning and sequencing of both archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB). The effluents significantly modified stream chemical parameters, and changes in longitudinal profiles of both NH(4)(+) and NO(3)(-) indicated stimulated nitrification activity. WWTP effluents were an allocthonous source of both AOA, essentially from the Nitrosotalea cluster, and mostly of AOB, mainly Nitrosomonas oligotropha, Nitrosomonas communis, and Nitrosospira spp. changing the relative abundance and the natural composition of AO assemblages. Under natural conditions, Nitrososphaera and Nitrosopumilus AOA dominated AO assemblages, and AOB were barely detected. After the WWTP perturbation, epilithic AOB increased by orders of magnitude whereas AOA did not show quantitative changes but a shift in population composition to dominance of Nitrosotalea spp. The foraneous AOB successfully settled in downstream biofilms and probably carried out most of the nitrification activity. Nitrosotalea were only observed downstream and only in biofilms exposed to either darkness or low irradiance. In addition to other potential environmental limitations for AOA distribution, this result suggests in situ photosensitivity as previously reported for Nitrosotalea under laboratory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie N Merbt
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre of Advanced Studies of Blanes, CEAB-CSIC, Spanish Council for Scientific Research, Accés Cala St. Francesc 14, E-17300, Blanes, Spain
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Mußmann M, Ribot M, von Schiller D, Merbt SN, Augspurger C, Karwautz C, Winkel M, Battin TJ, Martí E, Daims H. Colonization of freshwater biofilms by nitrifying bacteria from activated sludge. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2013; 85:104-15. [DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2012] [Revised: 02/12/2013] [Accepted: 02/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Mußmann
- Department of Microbial Ecology; Ecology Center; University of Vienna; Vienna; Austria
| | - Miquel Ribot
- Biogeodynamics and Biodiversity Group; Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC); Blanes; Spain
| | - Daniel von Schiller
- Biogeodynamics and Biodiversity Group; Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC); Blanes; Spain
| | - Stephanie N. Merbt
- Biogeodynamics and Biodiversity Group; Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC); Blanes; Spain
| | - Clemens Augspurger
- Department of Freshwater Ecology and Hydrobotany; Ecology Center; University of Vienna; Vienna; Austria
| | - Clemens Karwautz
- Institute of Groundwater Ecology; Helmholtz Center Munich; Neuherberg; Germany
| | - Matthias Winkel
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology; Bremen; Germany
| | | | - Eugènia Martí
- Biogeodynamics and Biodiversity Group; Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC); Blanes; Spain
| | - Holger Daims
- Department of Microbial Ecology; Ecology Center; University of Vienna; Vienna; Austria
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Merbt SN, Stahl DA, Casamayor EO, Martí E, Nicol GW, Prosser JI. Differential photoinhibition of bacterial and archaeal ammonia oxidation. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2011; 327:41-6. [PMID: 22093004 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2011.02457.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2011] [Revised: 10/14/2011] [Accepted: 11/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition by light potentially influences the distribution of ammonia oxidizers in aquatic environments and is one explanation for nitrite maxima near the base of the euphotic zone of oceanic waters. Previous studies of photoinhibition have been restricted to bacterial ammonia oxidizers, rather than archaeal ammonia oxidizers, which dominate in marine environments. To compare the photoinhibition of bacterial and archaeal ammonia oxidizers, specific growth rates of two ammonia-oxidizing archaea (Nitrosopumilus maritimus and Nitrosotalea devanaterra) and bacteria (Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrosospira multiformis) were determined at different light intensities under continuous illumination and light/dark cycles. All strains were inhibited by continuous illumination at the highest intensity (500 μE m(-2) s(-1)). At lower light intensities, archaeal growth was much more photosensitive than bacterial growth, with greater inhibition at 60 μE m(-2) s(-1) than at 15 μE m(-2) s(-1), where bacteria were unaffected. Archaeal ammonia oxidizers were also more sensitive to cycles of 8-h light/16-h darkness at two light intensities (60 and 15 μE m(-2) s(-1)) and, unlike bacterial strains, showed no evidence of recovery during dark phases. The findings provide evidence for niche differentiation in aquatic environments and reduce support for photoinhibition as an explanation of nitrite maxima in the ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie N Merbt
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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