Functional recovery of biofilm bacterial communities after copper exposure

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2006-03, Vol.140 (2), p.239-246
• Main Authors: Boivin, Marie-Elène Y., Massieux, Boris, Breure, Anton M., Greve, Gerdit D., Rutgers, Michiel, Admiraal, Wim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; aquatic organisms; bacteria; Bacteria - drug effects; Bacteria - growth & development; Bacterial communities; biofilm; Biofilms - drug effects; Biofilms - growth & development; Biological and medical sciences; Colony Count, Microbial; community-level physiological profiles; Community-level physiological profiling (CLPP); Copper - analysis; Copper - toxicity; denaturing gradient electrophoresis; Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE); Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel - methods; Fresh Water; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gel electrophoresis; General aspects; metal tolerance; Microbial ecology; physiological response; Pollution-induced community tolerance (PICT); Recovery; Time Factors; Trace Elements - analysis; Trace Elements - toxicity; Various environments (extraatmospheric space, air, water); Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; water pollution
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.07.014

Potential of bacterial communities in biofilms to recover after copper exposure was investigated. Biofilms grown outdoor in shallow water on glass dishes were exposed in the laboratory to 0.6, 2.1, 6.8 μmol/l copper amended surface water and a reference and subsequently to un-amended surface water. Transitions of bacterial communities were characterised with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and community-level physiological profiles (CLPP). Exposure to 6.8 μmol/l copper provoked distinct changes in DGGE profiles of bacterial consortia, which did not reverse upon copper depuration. Exposure to 2.1 and 6.8 μmol/l copper was found to induce marked changes in CLPP of bacterial communities that proved to be reversible during copper depuration. Furthermore, copper exposure induced the development of copper-tolerance, which was partially lost during depuration. It is concluded that bacterial communities exposed to copper contaminated water for a period of 26 days are capable to restore their metabolic attributes after introduction of unpolluted water in aquaria for 28 days. Genetically different bacterial communities can have similar functions and tolerance to copper.