Contrasting Water Quality Treatments Result in Structural and Functional Changes to Wetland Plant-Associated Microbial Communities in Lab-Scale Mesocosms.

Contrasting Water Quality Treatments Result in Structural and Functional Changes to Wetland Plant-Associated Microbial Communities in Lab-Scale Mesocosms. Microb Ecol. 2019 May 29;: Authors: Clairmont LK, Slawson RM Abstract The impact of contrasting water quality treatments on wetland plant-associated microbial communities was investigated in this study using 12 lab-scale wetland mesocosms (subsurface flow design) planted with reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) or water speedwell (Veronica anagallis-aquatica) over a 13-week period. Mesocosms received water collected from two sites along the Grand River (Ontario, Canada) designated as having either high or poor water quality according to Grand River Conservation Authority classifications. All mesocosms were established using sediment collected from the high water quality site and received water from this source pre-treatment. Resulting changes to microbial community structure were assessed using PCR-denaturing gel gradient electrophoresis (DGGE) on microbial 16S rDNA sequences extracted from rhizoplane, rhizosphere, and water samples before and after exposure to water quality treatments. Functional community changes were determined using Biolog™ EcoPlates which assess community-level carbon source utilization profiles. Wetland mesocosm removal of inorganic nutrients (N, P) and fecal coliforms was also determined, and compared among treatments. Treatment-specific effects were ...
Source: Microbial Ecology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Microb Ecol Source Type: research