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Influence of Algal Community Structure on Denitrification Rates in Periphyton Cultivated on Artificial Substrata

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Abstract

We conducted a field survey of periphyton cultivated on benthic mesh installations in freshwater aquatic systems, including two constructed wetlands and a pond, and also studied periphyton grown on a benthic mesh in laboratory mesocosms. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine if periphyton cultivated on benthic mesh denitrifies at higher rates than the underlying sediments and (2) determine if denitrification rates within periphyton vary with characteristics such as algal and bacterial community structure and biomass. We measured denitrification potential rates of field and laboratory periphyton by the acetylene inhibition method. We characterized algal community composition by algal identification and bacterial community composition by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Periphyton collected on benthic mesh from our field sites denitrified at significantly higher rates than the underlying sediments, regardless of sampling site or season. Results from both our field survey and laboratory studies indicated a significant, positive correlation between diatom presence and denitrification rate. In our laboratory studies, we found that periphyton with the highest diatom abundance showed the highest denitrification rates as well as a distinct bacterial community composition. These results suggest a synergistic relationship between diatoms and denitrifying bacteria that warrants further study.

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Acknowledgment

We would like to acknowledge the US Department Agriculture (grant # 2002–35102–12373) for supporting this project. We would also like to thank Dr. Donald Hey, Kathy Paap, Jerry Curan (Wetlands Research, Inc.), and Bob Kirshner (Chicago Botanic Gardens) for their help in maintaining the field sites. In addition, we would like to express our gratitude to Carla Ng, Laura Pigion, Clare Frederick, and Caitlin Kielhorn for their assistance with the fieldwork, and Dr. Deanna Hurum, Dr. Tanita Sirivedhin, Dr. Kristin Searcy, Dr. Mary Jo Kirisits, Dr. Gail Teitzel, Dr. Jill Kostel, and Dr. Susan Fishbain for their assistance in the laboratory. Finally, we would like to acknowledge Dr. Ann St. Amand for the assistance with algal identification.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208-3109, USA

    Cari K. Ishida, Shai Arnon & Kimberly A. Gray

  2. Department of Natural Science, Loyola University Chicago, 6525 N. Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL, 60626, USA

    Christopher G. Peterson

  3. Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 6525 N. Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL, 60626, USA

    John J. Kelly

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  1. Cari K. Ishida
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  2. Shai Arnon
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  3. Christopher G. Peterson
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  5. Kimberly A. Gray
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Correspondence to Kimberly A. Gray.

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Ishida, C.K., Arnon, S., Peterson, C.G. et al. Influence of Algal Community Structure on Denitrification Rates in Periphyton Cultivated on Artificial Substrata. Microb Ecol 56, 140–152 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-007-9332-0

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