The effect of substratum roughness and river flow rate on the development of a freshwater biofilm community

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of substratum roughness, using two grades of silicon carbide sandpaper coupons, and river flow rate on the colonisation dynamics of bacteria, heterotrophic flagellates and algae over a 16 week incubation period in the River Conder, UK. In the short-term i.e. up to 2 weeks, a combination of substratum roughness and high river flow significantly increased bacterial biomass on the coupons, but did not affect any of the numbers cm -2 of other organisms. In the long-term i.e. up to 16 weeks, neither parameter appeared to affect the development and maintenance of the mature biofilms. Evidence of a diverse protozoan community within the biofilms was recorded, thereby highlighting the need to consider the effect of these primary consumers on biofilm dynamics in future studies.

Molecular analysis of long-term biofilm formation on PVC and cast iron surfaces in drinking water distribution system

“…On the other hand, eukaryotic community was not analyzed in that work. Eukaryotes have been reported to be closely associated with bacterial biofilms (Hunt and Parry, 1998). Furthermore, some eukaryotes (e.g.…”

Pyrosequencing analysis of eukaryotic and bacterial communities in faucet biofilms

“…Eukaryotic protozoa are reported to be closely associated with environmental bacterial biofilms (Hunt and Parry, 1998). The effects of protozoan grazing on the biofilm community are probably the most important factor controlling biofilm bacterial communities (Pedersen, 1990).…”

Spatial and temporal variability in the potential of river water biofilms to degrade p-nitrophenol

“…In particular, changes in river water volume and flow rates (Naudin et al 2001), temperature (LaPara et al 2000, light penetration (Romaní and Sabater, 1999) and suspended matter (Cébron et al 2007) can impact the composition of microbial communities inhabiting 80 river water and sediment (Hudon, 1997;Hunt and Parry, 1998;Midwood andChow-Fraser, 2012, LaPara et al 2000). This can affect chemical bioavailability and biodegradation in situ.…”