Scientific article
OA Policy
English

Long-Term Effects of Mercury on Biofilms Grown in Contaminated Microcosms: A Pilot Study

Published inEnvironments, vol. 6, no. 28
Publication date2019
Abstract

Biofilms are important components of the mercury (Hg) biogeochemical cycle. However, Hg effects on biofilm communities are overlooked. Here, we present results of a pilot study on the chronic effects of Hg on biofilms, notably on the potential change of their taxonomic composition. Biofilms were cultivated in microcosms enriched with three different Hg concentrations (11 ± 2 pM, 121 ± 9 pM and 1454 ± 54 pM) for 55 days and examined for their accumulated Hg concentrations and composition. Bioaccumulated Hg concentrations were representative of those encountered in natural environments. Despite the lack of influence on the ash free dry weight and chlorophyll content, the surface coverage of the substrata of biofilms grown in Hg decreased. Algal community were strongly affected by Hg, with a decrease in their richness with Ochrophyta found as the most sensitive phyla. The diversity and richness of bacterial communities did not change upon cultivation in Hg but the presence of Proteobacteria increased with Hg, whereas Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Verrumicrobia, and Cyanobacteria were negatively impacted. Overall, the above findings suggest that the examination of the algal community composition might be used as a potential biomonitoring tool to assess the impacts of environmental Hg concentrations on aquatic systems, which would merit further investigation

Keywords
  • Periphyton
  • Bioaccumulation
  • Taxonomy
  • Methylmercury
  • Bacteria
  • Microalgae
Funding
  • Swiss National Science Foundation - IZERZO-142228
Citation (ISO format)
DRANGUET, Perrine et al. Long-Term Effects of Mercury on Biofilms Grown in Contaminated Microcosms: A Pilot Study. In: Environments, 2019, vol. 6, n° 28. doi: 10.3390/environments6030028
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
Identifiers
Additional URL for this publicationhttp://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/6/3/28
Journal ISSN2076-3298
532views
238downloads

Technical informations

Creation29/05/2019 21:06:00
First validation29/05/2019 21:06:00
Update15/03/2023 17:11:37
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