2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference

March 13 - 15, 2022

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5/23/2019 | 2:00 PM - 2:15 PM | QUANTIFYING STREAM PERIPHYTON COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO NUTRIENT AMENDMENTS USING A MOLECULAR APPROACH | 150 DEF

QUANTIFYING STREAM PERIPHYTON COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO NUTRIENT AMENDMENTS USING A MOLECULAR APPROACH

Biotic condition of streams with respect to nutrient pollution has been evaluated using bioindicators such as macroinvertebrate assemblages or periphyton communities, particularly diatoms. Molecular approaches have shown promise for this application, potentially because periphyton are incredibly diverse. To develop this further, we examined prokaryote and eukaryote community composition using 16S rRNA genes and 18S rRNA genes via experiments utilizing nutrient-diffusing substrata deployed in two streams in the southeastern US. Experimental treatments included controls, +N, +P, and +NP. Periphyton differed significantly by stream, date/season, and nutrient treatment, with more consistent community differences among prokaryotes compared to eukaryotes. Stronger nutrient effects were observed in the less nutrient-impacted stream. Combined +NP amendments decreased prokaryote species richness and diversity by 36%. Associations of taxonomic groups with nutrient treatments were evaluated using indicator species analysis and used to compute nutrient indicators. N vs. P effects were not well-resolved by broader community composition, but diatoms were more responsive to P than N. Results are encouraging in the context of existing studies, while also pointing toward further work needed to validate useful and practical molecular-based nutrient response indicators.

Bioindicators
Microbial
Nutrients

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Presenters/Authors

James Hagy (), US Environmental Protection Agency, hagy.jim@epa.gov;