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Short-term arsenic exposure reduces diatom cell size in biofilm communities

Arsenic (As) pollution in water has important impacts for human and ecosystem health. In freshwaters, arsenate (AsV) can be taken up by microalgae due to its similarity with phosphate molecules, its toxicity being aggravated under phosphate depletion. An experiment combining ecological and ecotoxicological descriptors was conducted to investigate the effects of AsV (130 μg L−1 over 13 days) on the structure and function of fluvial biofilm under phosphate-limiting conditions. We further incorporated fish (Gambusia holbrooki) into our experimental system, expecting fish to provide more available phosphate for algae and, consequently, protecting algae against As toxicity. However, this protection role was not fully achieved. Arsenic inhibited algal growth and productivity but not bacteria. The diatom community was clearly affected showing a strong reduction in cell biovolume; selection for tolerant species, in particular Achnanthidium minutissimum; and a reduction in species richness. Our results have important implications for risk assessment, as the experimental As concentration used was lower than acute toxicity criteria established by the USEPA

Financial support was provided by Spanish Science and Education Ministry (project CTM2009-14111-CO2-01), Spanish Economy and Competitiveness Ministry (project CGL2013-43822-R), and the University of Girona project SING12/09

Springer Verlag

Manager: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Espanya)
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Espanya)
Author: Barral Fraga, Laura
Morin, Soizic
Rovira, Marona
Urrea Clos, Gemma
Magellan, Kit
Guasch i Padró, Helena
Date: 2016 March 1
Abstract: Arsenic (As) pollution in water has important impacts for human and ecosystem health. In freshwaters, arsenate (AsV) can be taken up by microalgae due to its similarity with phosphate molecules, its toxicity being aggravated under phosphate depletion. An experiment combining ecological and ecotoxicological descriptors was conducted to investigate the effects of AsV (130 μg L−1 over 13 days) on the structure and function of fluvial biofilm under phosphate-limiting conditions. We further incorporated fish (Gambusia holbrooki) into our experimental system, expecting fish to provide more available phosphate for algae and, consequently, protecting algae against As toxicity. However, this protection role was not fully achieved. Arsenic inhibited algal growth and productivity but not bacteria. The diatom community was clearly affected showing a strong reduction in cell biovolume; selection for tolerant species, in particular Achnanthidium minutissimum; and a reduction in species richness. Our results have important implications for risk assessment, as the experimental As concentration used was lower than acute toxicity criteria established by the USEPA
Financial support was provided by Spanish Science and Education Ministry (project CTM2009-14111-CO2-01), Spanish Economy and Competitiveness Ministry (project CGL2013-43822-R), and the University of Girona project SING12/09
Format: application/pdf
Document access: http://hdl.handle.net/10256/12456
Language: eng
Publisher: Springer Verlag
Collection: info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1007/s11356-015-4894-8
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/issn/0944-1344
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1614-7499
MICINN/PN 2010-2012/CTM2009-14111-C02-01
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MINECO//CGL2013-43822-R/ES/HACIA UN USO SOSTENIBLE DE LOS ECOSISTEMAS FLUVIALES MEDITERRANEOS: EFECTOS DIRECTOS E INDIRECTOS DE LA ALTERACION HIDROLOGICA EN PECES/
Rights: Tots els drets reservats
Subject: Diatomees
Diatoms
Arsènic -- Toxicologia
Arsenic -- Toxicology
Arsènic -- Aspectes ambientals
Arsenic -- Environmental aspects
Toxicologia ambiental
Environmental toxicology
Biofilms
Title: Short-term arsenic exposure reduces diatom cell size in biofilm communities
Type: info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Repository: DUGiDocs

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