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Evaluating the periphyton as a bioreactor for removal of nutrients in a shallow hypereutrophic reservoir

Avaliando o perifíton como biorreator para remoção de nutrientes em um reservatório raso hipereutrófico

Abstract:

Aim

We evaluated the periphyton on artificial substrate in the treated sewage effluent, effluent patch, inside and after the macrophyte stand in a shallow hypereutrophic reservoir. Specifically, we investigated the relationship between N and P contents and algal biomass in the periphyton with N and P availability, focusing on nutrient retention.

Methods

Periphyton sampling was performed at the effluent inlet, effluent path, inside, and two sites after macrophyte stand. Periphyton sampling was performed after 30 days of colonization. Abiotic variables were determined in the sewage effluent and in the reservoir water.

Results

Biomass and N and P contents in the periphyton were significantly different among sampling sites. The highest nutrient concentrations were found in the sampling sites with effluent. The highest periphyton chlorophyll-a were found inside and after the macrophyte stand, while N and P contents were the highest in the effluent inlet and effluent.

Conclusions

In conclusion, N and P contents in the periphyton were associated with N and P availability, evidencing the ability of nutrient retention of the community. Our findings suggest that periphyton on artificial substrate can as a potential tool for removing N and P from the effluent from the sewage treatment system, contributing to minimizing the nutrient load discharged in a shallow reservoir.

Keywords: biomass; biofilm; nutrient removal; nutrient content; secondary sewage treatment

Resumo:

Objetivos

Avaliamos o perifíton em substrato artificial no efluente de esgoto tratado, no percurso do efluente, dentro e após o banco de macrófitas em um reservatório raso hipereutrófico. Especificamente, investigamos a relação entre os conteúdos de N e P e a biomassa de algas no perifíton com a disponibilidade de N e P do ambiente, com foco na retenção de nutrientes.

Métodos

A amostragem do perifíton foi realizada no efluente e ao longo do percurso do efluente, dentro e em dois locais após o banco de macrófitas. A amostragem do perifíton foi realizada após 30 dias da colonização. As variáveis abióticas foram determinadas no efluente do esgoto e na água do reservatório.

Resultados

Os valores de biomassa e conteúdo N e P no perifíton foram significativamente diferentes entre os locais de amostragem. As maiores concentrações de nutrientes foram encontradas nos locais com efluente. As maiores concentrações de clorofila-a no perifíton foram encontradas dentro e após o banco de macrófitas, enquanto os maiores teores de N e P foram encontrados no efluente e no percurso do efluente.

Conclusões

Em conclusão, os conteúdos de N e P no perifíton foram associados à disponibilidade de N e P, evidenciando a capacidade de retenção de nutrientes da comunidade. Nossos resultados sugerem que o perifíton em substrato artificial pode ser uma ferramenta para a remoção de N e P do efluente do sistema de tratamento de esgoto, contribuindo para minimizar a carga de nutrientes descarregada em um reservatório raso.

Palavras-chave:
biomassa; biofilme; conteúdo de nutrientes; esgoto com tratamento secundário remoção de nutrientes

1. Introduction

Eutrophication is a well-documented environmental problem worldwide (Schindler, 2012SCHINDLER, D.W. The dilemma of controlling cultural eutrophication of lakes. Proceedings. Biological Sciences, 2012, 279(1746), 4322-4333. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.1032. PMid:22915669.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.1032...
, Le Moal et al., 2019LE MOAL, M., GASCUEL-ODOUX, C., MÉNESGUEN, A., SOUCHON, Y., ÉTRILLARD, C., LEVAIN, A., MOATAR, F., PANNARD, A., SOUCHU, P., LEFEBVRE, A. and PINAY, G. Eutrophication: a new wine in an old bottle? The Science of the Total Environment, 2019, 651(Pt 1), 1-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.139. PMid:30223216.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.20...
). The increase in algal biomass, changes in species composition, and structural simplification are some of the effects of eutrophication on biological communities (Wetzel, 2001WETZEL, R.G. Limnology. New York: Academic Press, 2001, 1006 p.). In freshwater ecosystems, phosphorus is a necessary macronutrient for primary producers, and it is considered a primary nutrient limiting algal growth. A reduction in phosphorus supply has successfully reduced eutrophication in lakes and reservoirs (Schindler, 2012SCHINDLER, D.W. The dilemma of controlling cultural eutrophication of lakes. Proceedings. Biological Sciences, 2012, 279(1746), 4322-4333. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.1032. PMid:22915669.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.1032...
). Thus, the reduction of phosphorus availability is essential for the restoration of most eutrophic ecosystems. In this context, periphyton can play an important role in the removal of nutrients due ability to assimilate, immobilize, and internally recycle N and P efficiently, reducing nutrient supply in the ecosystem (Dodds, 2003DODDS, W.K. The role of periphyton in phosphorus retention in shallow freshwater aquatic systems. Journal of Phycology, 2003, 39(5), 840-849. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1529-8817.2003.02081.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1529-8817.20...
; Sutherland & Craggs, 2017SUTHERLAND, D.L. and CRAGGS, R.J. Utilizing periphytic algae as nutrient removal systems for the treatment of diffuse nutrient pollution in waterways. Algal Research, 2017, 25, 496-506. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2017.05.023.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2017.0...
). Different types of technologies using periphyton for the removal of nutrients in wastewater treatments have been successfully tested (Sutherland & Craggs, 2017SUTHERLAND, D.L. and CRAGGS, R.J. Utilizing periphytic algae as nutrient removal systems for the treatment of diffuse nutrient pollution in waterways. Algal Research, 2017, 25, 496-506. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2017.05.023.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2017.0...
; Wu et al., 2018WU, Y., LIU, J. and RENE, E.R. Periphytic biofilms: a promising nutrient utilization regulator in wetlands. Bioresource Technology, 2018, 248(Pt B), 44-48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.07.081. PMid:28756125.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.201...
, Gao et al., 2015GAO, F., YANG, Z.H., LI, C., ZENG, G.M., MA, D.H. and ZHOU, L. A novel algal biofilm membrane photobioreactor for attached microalgae growth and nutrients removal from secondary effluent. Bioresource Technology, 2015, 179, 8-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.11.108. PMid:25514396.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.201...
). Studies reported the potential application of periphyton to minimize non-point nutrient pollution and remove phosphorus from sewage treatment systems (Lu et al., 2014LU, H., YANG, L., SHABBIR, S. and WU, Y. The adsorption process during inorganic phosphorus removal by cultured periphyton. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 2014, 21(14), 8782-8791. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2813-z. PMid:24728572.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-281...
, Cao et al., 2014CAO, J., HONG, X. and PEI, G. Removal and retention of phosphorus by periphyton from wastewater with high organic load. Water Science and Technology, 2014, 70(1), 62-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2014.195. PMid:25026580.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2014.195...
, Sutherland & Craggs, 2017SUTHERLAND, D.L. and CRAGGS, R.J. Utilizing periphytic algae as nutrient removal systems for the treatment of diffuse nutrient pollution in waterways. Algal Research, 2017, 25, 496-506. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2017.05.023.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2017.0...
). Although the use of periphyton bioreactor to remove nutrients from enriched systems is recognized worldwide, this approach is still little investigated in Brazil (Morashashi et al., 2019MORASHASHI, A.C., JESUS, T.A., ROSA, D.S., HARADA, J. and BICUDO, D.C. Avaliação e comparação do acúmulo de fósforo por biofilme formado sobre lâminas de vidro e de filme polimérico biodegradável (Ecovio® modificado). Revista Brasileira de Ciência. Tecnologia e Inovação, 2019, 4(2), 131-145.).

In the present study, we evaluated the periphyton on artificial substrate in the treated sewage effluent, inside and after the macrophyte stand, investigating the potential of the community as a bioreactor. Specifically, we investigated the relationship between N and P contents and algal biomass in the periphyton with N and P availability, focusing on nutrient retention. The present study contributes to a better understanding of the use of periphyton as a bioreactor to remove phosphorus in shallow tropical reservoirs.

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Study area

The Garças Reservoir is located in the Fontes do Ipiranga State Park (23 ° 38'40.6 “S, 46 ° 37'28.0” W), which is located São Paulo, Brazil (Figure 1). It is a shallow urban reservoir (Zmax = 4.7 m; Zmed = 2.1 m) and classified as hypereutrophic (Bicudo et al., 2020BICUDO, D.C., ZANON, J.E., FERRAGUT, C., CROSSETTI, L.O., FAUSTINO, S. and BICUDO, C.E.M. Garças Reservoir trophic state dynamics: a 20-year synthesis. Hoehnea, 2020, 47, e722019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2236-8906-72/2019.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2236-8906-72/2...
). The reservoir has a surface area of 88,156 m2, a volume of 188,785 m3, and a mean theoretical residence time of 71 days. The climate is classified as high altitude tropical with rainy summers and dry winters. About 20 years ago, the macrophyte coverage reached 40-70% of the water surface causing mosquitoes’ proliferation (Bicudo et al., 2007BICUDO, D.C., FONSECA, B.M., BINI, L.M., CROSSETTI, L.O., BICUDO, C.E.M. and ARAÚJO-JESUS, T. Undesirable side-effects of water hyacinth control in a shallow tropical reservoir. Freshwater Biology, 2007, 51(6), 1120-1133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2007.01738.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.20...
). To mitigate this problem, macrophytes were removed mechanically and management actions were initiated (Bicudo et al., 2020BICUDO, D.C., ZANON, J.E., FERRAGUT, C., CROSSETTI, L.O., FAUSTINO, S. and BICUDO, C.E.M. Garças Reservoir trophic state dynamics: a 20-year synthesis. Hoehnea, 2020, 47, e722019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2236-8906-72/2019.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2236-8906-72/2...
). Currently, macrophytes are trapped by a structure made of bamboo and metal mesh. Despite the discharge of untreated domestic sewage had been interrupted, the secondary treatment effluent is still discharged into the ecosystem. The effluent from the secondary sewage treatment is discharged at a point in the riparian forest, then it percolates into the macrophyte stand in the littoral zone of the reservoir. This effluent is secondary wastewater treatment plant in the city zoo. During the experimental period (09/11/2016 to 09/12/2016), the air temperature ranged from 14.7 to 23.8ºC and daily rainfall varied from 0 to 40 mm (Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas ­– IAG/USP, 2019).

Figure 1
A. The location of the sampling area in the Garças Reservoir bathymetric map (B; Bicudo et al., 2002BICUDO, C.E.M., CARMO, C.F., BICUDO, D.C., HENRY, R., PIÃO, A.C.S., SANTOS, C.M. and LOPES, M.R.M. Morfologia e morfometria de três reservatórios no PEFI. In D.C. BICUDO, M.C. FORTI and C.E.M. BICUDO, eds. Parque Estadual das Fontes do Ipiranga (PEFI): unidade de conservação que resiste à urbanização de São Paulo. São Paulo: Secretaria do Meio Ambiente do Estado de São Paulo, 2002, pp. 143-160.). B. Scheme showing the sequence of the sampling sites from the discharge of the effluent (effluent inlet; effluent path; inside macrophyte stand; after 1 m from the macrophyte stand; 10-15m away from the stand). The gray area represents the macrophyte stand.

2.2. Sampling design

In the littoral zone, effluent or water and periphyton sampling were performed at the effluent inlet, effluent path, inside, and after macrophyte stand (replication: n = 3), totaling 15 sampling sites. In the forest, a pipe discharges the secondary sewage treatment effluent, forming a place of the accumulation, which is called the effluent inlet. In this place, the effluent overflows and runs about 10 m until it enters the macrophyte stand (Eichhornia crassipes Mart. (Solms); Eichhornia azurea (Sw) Kunth); this path was called the effluent path. The sampling sites were designated as: EI, effluent inlet; EP, effluent path (10-15 m away from the source); M, macrophyte stand (Eichhornia crassipes; 20-30 m away from the source); AS, 1 m after stand (40 m away from the source); AM, 10-15m away from the macrophyte stand (50 m away from the source). The water column depth varied from 20 to 50 centimeters at the first four sampling sites and was 1.5 meters at the last one.

Fifteen acrylic supports with ten glass slides for periphyton colonization each were submerged at a depth of 15 cm in the sampling sites. After 30 days of exposure, the colonized substrates were collected. In the macrophyte stand, the artificial substrates were placed near Eichhornia crassipes, aiming at a better representation of the epiphyton. The periphyton on artificial substrates was removed by scraping and jets of distilled water. The artificial substrate was chosen to exclude the influence of macrophyte on periphyton nutrient status.

2.3. Environmental variables analyzed

In the field, underwater radiation was measured using quantometer (Li-Cor LI-250A) and temperature and pH using underwater multiparameter probe (Horiba U-50, Kyoto, Japan). The concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO; azide-modification method), free CO2 (calculated from alkalinity and pH), nitrate (cadmium reduction method), nitrite (diazotization method), ammonium (phenate method), orthophosphate (ascorbic acid method), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) (alkaline persulfate method) were determined according to APHA (2005)AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION – APHA. American Water Works Association. Water Environment Federation. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 21st ed. Washington, DC: APHA, 2005.. The nitrite, nitrate and ammonium concentrations were summed to determine dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN). The water samples for the dissolved nutrients were filtered through glass-fiber filters (GF/F Whatman, Maidstone, UK).

2.4. Periphyton

We determined periphyton chlorophyll-a (corrected for phaeophytin) from a sample filtered on glass-fiber filters (GF/F Whatman, Maidstone, UK), following 24 h extraction with 90% ethanol in the dark (Sartory & Grobbelaar, 1984SARTORY, D.P. and GROBBELAAR, J.U. Extraction of chlorophyll a from freshwater phytoplankton for spectrophotometric analysis. Hydrobiologia, 1984, 114(3), 177-187. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00031869.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00031869...
). We filtered periphyton samples on glass-fiber filters (GF/F Whatman, Maidstone, UK), which were pre-calcined and weighed to determine dry mass (DM) and ash-free dry mass (AFDM). AFDM:Chlorophyll ratio (autotrophic index) was calculated according to APHA (2005)AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION – APHA. American Water Works Association. Water Environment Federation. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 21st ed. Washington, DC: APHA, 2005..

The periphyton TP content was determined by combusting samples at 550 °C for 1 h in a muffle and then leaching the samples in HCl 1N at 80°C for 30 min (Andersen, 1976ANDERSEN, J.M. An ignition method for determination of total phosphorus in lake sediments. Water Research, 1976, 10, 329-331.; Pompêo & Moschini-Carlos, 2003POMPÊO, M.L.M. and MOSCHINI-CARLOS, V. Macrófitas aquáticas e perifíton: aspectos ecológicos e metodológicos. São Carlos: Rima/FAPESP, 2003.). Subsequently, the samples were analyzed for soluble reactive phosphorus according to the ascorbic acid method (Strickland & Parsons, 1965STRICKLAND, J.D.H. and PARSONS, T.R. A manual of seawater analysis. Bulletin - Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 1965, 125, 1-185.). Periphyton TN content was determined by the micro-Kjeldahl method (Umbreit et al., 1964UMBREIT, W.W., BURRIS, R.H. and STAUFFER, J.F. Manometric methods applicable to the study of tissue metabolism. Minneapolis: Burgess Publishing Company, 1964.). N and P contents were expressed per dry mass unit (%DM).

2.5. Data analysis

Principal components analysis (PCA) was applied for the abiotic data. PCA was performed based on covariance matrix with limnological data log-transformed, except pH (PC-ORD 7.0; McCune & Mefford, 2011MCCUNE, B. and MEFFORD, M.J. PC-ORD. Multivariate analysis of ecological data. Oregon: MjM Software Design, 2011.). Based on eigenvalues from randomizations (Peres-Neto et al., 2005PERES-NETO, P.R., JACKSON, D.A. and SOMERS, K.M. How many principal components? Stopping rules for determining the number of non-trivial axes revisited. Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, 2005, 49(4), 974-997. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.csda.2004.06.015.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.csda.2004.06...
), we determined the dimension of interpretation. Pearson correlation (r) was used to evaluate the relationship between axis 1 scores and environmental variables, as well as the correlation between the periphyton nutrient content and dissolved nutrient concentration (α = 0.05). Permutational multivariate analysis of variance (one-way PERMANOVA) was applied to detect whether periphyton on artificial substrates were significantly different among sampling sites. This analysis was performed with logarithmic data, using the Bray-Curtis similarity measure and 9999 permutations (Past 4.02, Hammer et al., 2001HAMMER, Ø., HARPER, D.A.T. and RYAN, P.D. PAST: Paleontological Statistics software package for education and data analysis. Palaeontologia Electronica, 2001, 4(1), 1-9.).

3. Results

3.1. Environmental variables

Table 1 summarizes the abiotic variables in the water surrounding periphyton at sampling sites. The highest DO concentrations were detected inside the macrophyte stand and at the sites after the stand (1 m and 50 m). The highest TN, TP and conductivity values were found at the effluent inlet and effluent path sites. Similarly, the highest DIN and PO4-P concentrations were found in the effluent inlet and effluent path sites (Figures 2A-B). Light availability was higher after the macrophyte stand (Figure 2c).

Table 1
Mean and standard deviation of environmental variables in the sampling sites.
Figure 2
Dissolved nutrient concentrations and light availability (mean; SD; n = 3) in the sampling sites.

PCA summarized 97.2% of limnological data variability in the two first axes (Figure 3). The sampling sites with sewage effluent were associated with high nutrient and free CO2 concentrations (r > -0.7) on the negative side of axis 1. In contrast, the sampling sites inside and after the macrophyte stand were correlated with high DO concentration, pH and temperature (r> 0.8). Axis 1 represented a gradient of nutrient availability from the effluent input.

Figure 3
PCA of environmental variables in the sampling sites. Abbreviations: the letters indicate the sampling sites (E, effluent inlet; EP, effluent path; M, inside macrophyte stand; AS, after 1 m from the macrophyte stand; AM, 10-15m away from the macrophyte stand), and the last number indicates the three replicates (1,2,3) from each sampling site.

3.2. Periphyton

The highest periphyton chlorophyll-a were found inside macrophyte stand and after the stand, while the highest dry mass was found in the effluent inlet (Figures 4A-B). The lowest values of the periphyton AFDM:Chlorophyll ratios were found inside and after the macrophyte stand (Figure 4C). Environmental conditions of the sampling sites had significant influence on periphyton nutrient contents and biomass (PERMANOVA: F= 3.85; p = 0.002).

Figure 4
Periphyton chlorophyll-a, ash free dry mass (AFDM) and AFDM:Chlorophyll ratio (mean; SD; n = 3) in the sampling sites.

The highest N and P contents in the periphyton were found in the effluent inlet and effluent path (Figures 5A-B). At 50 meters from the effluent inlet, periphyton P and N contents increased again. Periphyton P content was positively correlated with water PO4-P concentration (Pearson: r = 0.8; p = 0.0003) and N content with DIN concentration (Pearson: r = 0.6; p = 0.04). Regarding the PCA scores, a negative and significant correlation was found between the P content and the scores for axis 1 (Pearson: r = -0.81; p = 0.0002). Negative and significant correlation was also found between N content and the axis 1 scores (Pearson: r = -0.54; p = 0.05).

Figure 5
Periphyton N and P contents (mean; SD; n = 3) in the sampling sites.

4. Discussion

Our findings showed a difference in the dissolved and total nutrient concentrations between sampling sites, showing an N and P availability gradient from the discharge of effluent from the secondary sewage treatment system. Comparing to long-term studies in the current reservoir (Crossetti et al., 2019CROSSETTI, L.O., BICUDO, D.C., BINI, L.M., DALA-CORTE, R.B., FERRAGUT, C. and BICUDO, C.E.M. Phytoplankton species interactions and invasion by Ceratium furcoides are influenced by extreme drought and water-hyacinth removal in a shallow tropical reservoir. Hydrobiologia, 2019, 831(1), 71-85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3607-y.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-360...
; Bicudo et al., 2020BICUDO, D.C., ZANON, J.E., FERRAGUT, C., CROSSETTI, L.O., FAUSTINO, S. and BICUDO, C.E.M. Garças Reservoir trophic state dynamics: a 20-year synthesis. Hoehnea, 2020, 47, e722019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2236-8906-72/2019.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2236-8906-72/2...
), dissolved nutrient concentrations were extremely high in the inlet effluent, demonstrating the high nutrient load that discharged into the reservoir. We observed that total and dissolved nutrient concentrations were substantially reduced inside and after the macrophyte stand (55-76%) when compared to sampling sites with treated sewage. Several factors may have acted on reducing the nutrient concentration inside and after macrophyte stand, such as dilution and chemical processes (Vymazal, 2007VYMAZAL, J. Removal of nutrients in various types of constructed wetlands. The Science of the Total Environment, 2007, 380(1-3), 48-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.09.014. PMid:17078997.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.20...
). However, the macrophyte stand that is restricted to an area of the reservoir can function as an artificial wetland, in which Eichhornia crassipes is the dominant species. According to a study in Brazilian tropical constructed wetlands, the removal of TP and TN from effluents averaged 50%-80% efficiency depending on the climatic period (Lautenschlager, 2001LAUTENSCHLAGER, S.R. Modelagem do desempenho de wetlands construídas [Dissertação de Mestrado]. São Paulo: Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo, 2001. 106 p. http://dx.doi.org/10.11606/D.3.2001.tde-11072002-091741.
http://dx.doi.org/10.11606/D.3.2001.tde-...
; Travaini-Lima & Sipaúba-Tavares, 2012TRAVAINI-LIMA, F. and SIPAÚBA-TAVARES, L.H. Efficiency of a constructed wetland for wastewaters treatment. Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia, 2012, 24(3), 255-265. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S2179-975X2012005000043.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S2179-975X2012...
). The efficiency of E. crassipes in removing nutrients from different systems has been demonstrated (Patel, 2012PATEL, S. Threats, management and envisaged utilizations of aquatic weed Eichhornia crassipes: an overview. Reviews in Environmental Science and Biotechnology, 2012, 11(3), 249-259. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11157-012-9289-4.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11157-012-928...
; Zhang et al., 2019ZHANG, Y., LIU, H., YAN, S., WEN, X., QIN, H., WANG, Z. and ZHANG, Z. Phosphorus removal from the hyper-eutrophic Lake Caohai (China) with large-scale water hyacinth cultivation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 2019, 26(13), 12975-12984. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04469-8. PMid:30895539.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-044...
), including sewage treatment systems (Dellarossa et al., 2001DELLAROSSA, V., CÉSPEDES, J. and ZAROR, C. Eichhornia crassipes-based tertiary treatment of Kraft pulp mill effluents in Chilean Central Region. Hydrobiologia, 2001, 443(1-3), 187-191. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1017507932543.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:101750793254...
; Mishra & Maiti, 2017MISHRA, S. and MAITI, A. The efficiency of Eichhornia crassipes in the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from wastewater: a review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 2017, 24(9), 7921-7937. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-8357-7. PMid:28092006.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-835...
). In constructed wetlands, macrophytes and periphyton are considered efficient in removing nutrients from effluents (Vymazal, 2007VYMAZAL, J. Removal of nutrients in various types of constructed wetlands. The Science of the Total Environment, 2007, 380(1-3), 48-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.09.014. PMid:17078997.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.20...
; Gu & Dreschel, 2008GU, B. and DRESCHEL, T. Effects of plant community and phosphorus loading rate on constructed wetland performance in Florida, USA. Wetlands, 2008, 28(1), 81-91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1672/07-24.1.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1672/07-24.1...
; Sutherland & Craggs, 2017SUTHERLAND, D.L. and CRAGGS, R.J. Utilizing periphytic algae as nutrient removal systems for the treatment of diffuse nutrient pollution in waterways. Algal Research, 2017, 25, 496-506. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2017.05.023.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2017.0...
). In the present study, our findings suggested that macrophyte-periphyton complex may have acted in reducing the N and P concentration from treated sewage effluent.

We found that the N and P contents in the periphyton on artificial substrate were coupled with the nutrient availability of the environment. Thus, the highest periphyton N and P contents were found in the treated sewage effluent. In freshwater ecosystems, the relationship between periphyton P content and water P concentration has been widely reported in the literature (e.g., Gaiser et al., 2004GAISER, E.E., SCINTO, L.J., RICHARDS, J.H., JAYACHANDRAN, K., CHILDERS, D.L., TREXLER, J.C. and JONES, R.D. Phosphorus in periphyton mats provides the best metric for detecting low-level P enrichment in an oligotrophic wetland. Water Research, 2004, 38(3), 507-516. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2003.10.020. PMid:14723918.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2003....
), including the study area reservoir (Santos et al., 2018SANTOS, S.A.M., SANTOS, T.R., FURTADO, M.S., HENRY, R. and FERRAGUT, C. Periphyton nutrient content, biomass and algal community on artificial substrate: response to experimental nutrient enrichment and the effect of its interruption in a tropical reservoir. Limnology, 2018, 19(2), 209-218. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10201-017-0533-z.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10201-017-053...
). Studies demonstrated the ability of periphyton to remove and retain phosphorus in wastewater with high-load phosphorus (Cao et al., 2014CAO, J., HONG, X. and PEI, G. Removal and retention of phosphorus by periphyton from wastewater with high organic load. Water Science and Technology, 2014, 70(1), 62-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2014.195. PMid:25026580.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2014.195...
; Lu et al., 2014LU, H., YANG, L., SHABBIR, S. and WU, Y. The adsorption process during inorganic phosphorus removal by cultured periphyton. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 2014, 21(14), 8782-8791. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2813-z. PMid:24728572.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-281...
, Gao et al., 2015GAO, F., YANG, Z.H., LI, C., ZENG, G.M., MA, D.H. and ZHOU, L. A novel algal biofilm membrane photobioreactor for attached microalgae growth and nutrients removal from secondary effluent. Bioresource Technology, 2015, 179, 8-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.11.108. PMid:25514396.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.201...
). On artificial substrates of different complexities, Wu et al. (2010) demonstrated that the periphyton bioreactor was a promising tool for controlling cyanobacterial growth in Chinese lakes. According to the review study, several technologies have been developed based on the potential of the periphytic algae community to remove wastewater nutrients (Sutherland & Craggs, 2017SUTHERLAND, D.L. and CRAGGS, R.J. Utilizing periphytic algae as nutrient removal systems for the treatment of diffuse nutrient pollution in waterways. Algal Research, 2017, 25, 496-506. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2017.05.023.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2017.0...
). As described in the literature, our results also suggested that periphyton on the artificial substrate can be used to remove nutrients from sewage effluent in the hypereutrophic reservoir studied here.

We found the highest periphyton chlorophyll-a inside and after the macrophyte stand. In these sites, AFDM:Chlorophyll ratio also evidenced greater participation of the autotrophic component in the periphyton. The low light availability may have been a determining factor for the low algal biomass in the periphyton in the inlet and path effluent, where the riparian forest causes strong shading. Despite the low algal biomass in the periphyton, we highlight that algae have functional characteristics that can contribute to the nutrient storage under low light availability, such as mixotrophy. The low light availability can favor the mixotrophic algae growth, which ingests bacteria or particulate matter (Rothhaupt, 1996ROTHHAUPT, K.O. Utilization of substitutable carbon and phosphorus sources by the mixotrophic chrysophyte Ochromonas sp. Ecology, 1996, 77(3), 706-715. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2265495.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2265495...
). A previous study reported a high abundance of mixotrophic algae in the periphyton and phytoplankton (Borduqui et al., 2012BORDUQUI, M., FERRAGUT, C. and BICUDO, C.E.M. Factors determining periphytic algae succession in a tropical hypereutrophic reservoir. Hydrobiologia, 2012, 683(1), 109-122. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0943-6.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-094...
; Crossetti et al., 2019CROSSETTI, L.O., BICUDO, D.C., BINI, L.M., DALA-CORTE, R.B., FERRAGUT, C. and BICUDO, C.E.M. Phytoplankton species interactions and invasion by Ceratium furcoides are influenced by extreme drought and water-hyacinth removal in a shallow tropical reservoir. Hydrobiologia, 2019, 831(1), 71-85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3607-y.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-360...
; Amaral et al., 2020AMARAL, L.M., CASTILHO, M.C.A., HENRY, R. and FERRAGUT, C. Epipelon, phytoplankton and zooplankton responses to the experimental oligotrophication in a eutrophic shallow reservoir. Environmental Pollution, 2020, 263(Pt A), 114603. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114603. PMid:33618459.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020....
). For example, Trachelomonas, Ceratium, and Cryptomonas species are common in the plankton and periphyton in the reservoir current. According to the literature, these genera are potentially mixotrophic (Chen et al., 2016CHEN, N., LIU, L., QIAO, D., LI, Y. and LV, Y. Seasonal succession patterns of plankton in eutrophic rivers on plains. Annales de Limnologie-International Journal of Limnology, 2016, 52, 217-233. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/limn/2016007.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/limn/2016007...
; Hansson et al., 2019HANSSON, T.H., GROSSART, H.P., DEL GIORGIO, P.A., ST‐GELAIS, N.F. and BEISNER, B.E. Environmental drivers of mixotrophs in boreal lakes. Limnology and Oceanography, 2019, 64(4), 1688-1705. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/lno.11144.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/lno.11144...
). Thus, periphyton can present algae with adaptive strategies to grow in low light availability, as observed in the treated sewage effluent.

Our findings showed that periphyton can as a tool for removing N and P from the effluent from the secondary sewage treatment system. Besides, periphytic algae contributed more to the removal of nutrients inside and after the macrophyte stand, where there was higher light availability. The results suggest that the algal community's contribution to nutrient retention should be greater in non-shaded sites. In conclusion, N and P contents in the periphyton were associated with N and P availability, evidencing the ability of nutrient retention of community. Our findings suggested that periphyton on artificial substrate can as a potential tool for removing N and P from the effluent from the sewage treatment system, contributing to minimizing the nutrient load discharged in a shallow reservoir.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the PIBIC - CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) for a fellowship given to SAMS. The authors are grateful to Ms Diego Alberto Tavares for her help in the field. The authors are very grateful to the students and technicians involved in laboratory work.

  • Cite as: Mendes-Santos, S. A. and Ferragut, C. Evaluating the periphyton as a bioreactor for removal of nutrients in a shallow hypereutrophic reservoir. Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia, 2021, vol. 33, e10.

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Edited by

Associate Editor: Gustavo Henrique Gonzaga da Silva.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    26 May 2021
  • Date of issue
    2021

History

  • Received
    10 Sept 2020
  • Accepted
    28 Apr 2021
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