Bacterioplankton community in response to biological filters (clam, biofilm, and macrophytes) in an integrated aquaculture wastewater bioremediation system

Betina Lukwambe; Li Zhao; Regan Nicholaus; Wen Yang; Jinyong Zhu; Zhongming Zheng

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113035

Bacterioplankton community in response to biological filters (clam, biofilm, and macrophytes) in an integrated aquaculture wastewater bioremediation system

Environ Pollut. 2019 Nov;254(Pt A):113035. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113035. Epub 2019 Aug 9.

Authors

Betina Lukwambe¹, Li Zhao², Regan Nicholaus³, Wen Yang⁴, Jinyong Zhu⁴, Zhongming Zheng⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315832, China; Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
² School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315832, China.
³ School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315832, China; Department of Natural Sciences, Mbeya University of Science and Technology, Mbeya, Tanzania.
⁴ School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315832, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Zhejiang Marine High-efficiency and Healthy Aquaculture, Ningbo, 315832, China.
⁵ School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315832, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Zhejiang Marine High-efficiency and Healthy Aquaculture, Ningbo, 315832, China. Electronic address: zhengzhongming@nbu.edu.cn.

PMID: 31421576
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113035

Abstract

Integrated systems with appropriate bio-filters can be used to treat aquaculture effluents. However, the information on bio-filters that alters the ecological functions of the bacterioplankton community (BC) in biodegradation of the aquaculture effluents remains controversial. In this study, we implemented a comprehensive restoration technology combined with bio-filters [biofilm, clam (Tegillarca granosa), and macrophytes (Spartina anglica)] to investigate their influence on the stability of the BC and nutrient removal. We found that the diversity of BC was linked with biogeochemical factors in processing and upcycling nitrogen-rich effluents into high-value biomass. The BC exhibited significant distinct patterns in the bio-filter areas. Potential biomarkers for constrained harmfully algae-bacteria (Nitriliruptoraceae, Bacillales, and Rhodobacteraceae) and nutrient removal were significantly higher in the bio-filters areas. The bio-filters significantly promoted the restoration effects of N and P balance by reducing 82.34% of total nitrogen (TN) and 81.64% of total phosphorus (TP) loads at the water interface. The main mechanisms for TN and TP removal and nutrient transformation were achieved by assimilation and absorption by the emergent macrophytes (Spartina anglica). The bio-filters significantly influenced the biodegradability and resolvability of particulate organic matter through ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification of microbes, which meliorated the nutrient removal. Beside bio-filter effects, the BC was significantly controlled by abiotic factors [nitrate (NO₃^--N), dissolved oxygen (DO), total nitrogen (TN), and water temperature (WT)], and biotic factors (chlorophyll ɑ and green algae). Our study revealed that the co-existence system with bio-filters may greatly improve our understanding on the ecological functions of the BC in aquaculture systems. Overall, combined bio-filters provide an opportunity for the development of efficient and optimized aquaculture wastewater treatment technology.

Keywords: Bacterioplankton; Biological filters; Eutrophication; Integrated system; Nutrient enrichment.

MeSH terms

Animals
Aquaculture*
Aquatic Organisms / metabolism
Biodegradation, Environmental*
Biofilms
Bivalvia / metabolism
Denitrification
Nitrates
Nitrification
Nitrogen / analysis
Phosphorus / metabolism
Plankton / physiology
Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
Wastewater

Substances

Nitrates
Waste Water
Phosphorus
Nitrogen