2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference

March 13 - 15, 2022

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5/25/2021  |   8:30 AM - 10:30 AM   |  Differential responses of algal-bacterial structure to wastewater in surface waters of the hydrologic contributing zone in the Edwards Aquifer Region   |  Virtual Platform

Differential responses of algal-bacterial structure to wastewater in surface waters of the hydrologic contributing zone in the Edwards Aquifer Region

Arid, intermittent streams in urban watersheds maintain flow through industrial and wastewater discharge. These water sources contain high concentrations of nutrients and a suite of contaminants which greatly impact stream structure and function. We deployed nutrient diffusing substrata (NDS) supplemented with N, P, N+P, and controls in three reaches impacted by wastewater discharge in Cibolo Creek, Boerne, TX. NDS Algal biomass, measured as chlorophyll-a, did not vary across nutrient treatments among sites indicating no nutrient limitation in algal communities spatially. Biofilm OM was greater in P and N+P treatments relative to controls at one site 1000-m downstream of wastewater discharge, but did not vary among nutrient regimes at the outfall or at the 5000-m downstream site. These data indicate that algae are not nutrient-limited in this ecosystem, yet heterotrophic microbial communities have greater P-demand than supply but this effect is dependent on site. This highlights the importance of spatial heterogeneity in influencing microbial nutrient demand in this ecosystem; nutrient input may also be supplied by non-point sources. Additional work is being completed to measure water-column nutrient concentrations and bacterial diversity colonizing NDS among sites.

  • Microbial ecology
  • Biodiversity
  • Urban streams

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Presenters/Authors

Michelle Le (), University of Texas at San Antonio, rtv121@utsa.edu;


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Allison Veach (), University of Texas San Antonio, allison.veach@utsa.edu;


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