The Role of Ciliated Protozoa in Subsurface Flow Wetlands and their Potential as Bioindicators

Author:

Decamp O.1,Warren A.1,Sanchez R.2

Affiliation:

1. Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK

2. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ave de Los Barrios s/n, Los Reyes, Iztacala, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico DF, Mexico

Abstract

The role of ciliated protozoa in the root zone method of wastewater treatment was assessed by analyzing ciliate community structure in four experimental subsurface flow wetlands (planted or unplanted in either soil or gravel) and estimating Escherichia coli removal due to ciliate predation. A total of 22 different ciliate taxa were isolated from the four reed beds. The first third of each bed contained a higher abundance and diversity than the final third of the bed. There was a qualitative correlation between physicochemical conditions and ciliate community structure: microaerophilic species dominated the organic-rich and oxygen-poor environment of the unplanted soil bed; aerobic and facultative bacterivorous species dominated the better oxygenated gravel beds; a combination of these two communities was found in the planted soil bed. The average grazing rates of ciliates was around 5 times higher in the planted gravel bed (49 bacteria/ciliate/hour) than in the unplanted soil bed (9.5 bacteria/ciliate/hour). Taking into account the retention time and ciliate abundance, it was calculated that ciliates, by their predatory activities, are capable of removing up to 2.35 × 105 and 0.45 × 105E. coli in the first third of the planted gravel bed and unplanted soil bed, respectively. These results are discussed in relation to variation in E. coli removal kinetics. The potential for using ciliate communities as indicators of conditions within constructed wetlands is also assessed.

Publisher

IWA Publishing

Subject

Water Science and Technology,Environmental Engineering

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3