Macrophyte Controls on Urban Stream Microbial Metabolic Activity

Morphophysiological Adaptations of Aquatic Macrophytes in Wetland-Based Sewage Treatment Systems: Strategies for Resilience and Efficiency under Environmental Stress

There is a common misconception that aquatic macrophytes face significant challenges in wetland-based sewage treatment systems. This study aims to correct this perception by focusing on the crucial morphophysiological adaptations of aquatic macrophytes that enable them to thrive in wetland-based sewage treatment systems, particularly under environmental stress. These adaptations are vital for improving the efficiency and resilience of wastewater treatment processes, offering sustainable solutions in the face of variable environmental conditions and complex contaminant mixtures. The review emphasizes the role of macrophytes as natural engineers, capable of enhancing pollutant removal and system stability through their unique structural and functional traits. By understanding these adaptations, the review aims to guide the optimization of wetland design and management, ultimately contributing to more sustainable and effective wastewater treatment practices. The findings underscore the importance of species selection and the integration of nature-based solutions in environmental management, advocating for policies that support the use of macrophytes in modern wastewater management.

Response of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and microbial community to submerged macrophytes restoration in lakes: A review

Microorganisms play a crucial role in the biogeochemical processes of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM), and the properties of DOM also significantly influence changes in microbial community characteristics. This interdependent relationship is vital for the flow of matter and energy within aquatic ecosystems. The presence, growth state, and community characteristics of submerged macrophytes determine the susceptibility of lakes to eutrophication, and restoring a healthy submerged macrophyte community is an effective way to address this issue. However, the transition from eutrophic lakes dominated by planktic algae to medium or low trophic lakes dominated by submerged macrophytes involves significant changes. Changes in aquatic vegetation have greatly affected the source, composition, and bioavailability of DOM. The adsorption and fixation functions of submerged macrophytes determine the migration and storage of DOM and other substances from water to sediment. Submerged macrophytes regulate the characteristics and distribution of microbial communities by controlling the distribution of carbon sources and nutrients in the lake. They further affect the characteristics of the microbial community in the lake environment through their unique epiphytic microorganisms. The unique process of submerged macrophyte recession or restoration can alter the DOM-microbial interaction pattern in lakes through its dual effects on DOM and microbial commu-----nities, ultimately changing the stability of carbon and mineralization pathways in lakes, such as the release of methane and other greenhouse gases. This review provides a fresh perspective on the dynamic changes of DOM and the role of the microbiome in the future of lake ecosystems.

Linking fluorescent dissolved organic matters to microbial carbon metabolism in the overlying water during submerged macrophyte Potamogeton crispus L decomposition in the presence/absence of Vallisneria natans

Multi-species submerged plants grow with succession patterns in the same habit and play an important role in the aquatic ecosystems. The decomposition of submerged plants in aquatic environments was a disturbance that affected the water quality and microbial community structures. However, the responses of the microbial community function in surface water to the disturbance remain poorly understood. In this study, the effects of submerged macrophyte Potamogeton crispus L decomposition on the water quality and microbial carbon metabolism functions (MCMF) in the overlying water were investigated in the presence/absence of Vallisneria natans. The result showed that the decomposition rapidly released a large amount of organic matter and nutrients into the overlying water. The presence of Vallisneria natans promoted the removal of dissolved organic carbon and fluorescent component C3, resulting in lower values of the percentage content of C3 (C3%). Under various decomposition processes, the MCMF changed over time and significantly negatively correlated with C3%. The functional diversity of MCMF significantly correlated with the fluorescence organic matters, such as the richness and Simpson index correlated with the amount of C1, C1+C2+C3, and C3%. But UV-visible absorption indexes and nutrients in the overlying water had no relationship with the MCMF, except for the total nitrogen correlated with the richness. These results suggested that under various decomposition conditions, the fluorescent dissolved organic matter could be used as an indicator for quick prediction of MCMF in surface water.

Tandem field and laboratory approaches to quantify attenuation mechanisms of pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical transformation products in a wastewater effluent-dominated stream

Evolving complex mixtures of pharmaceuticals and transformation products in effluent-dominated streams pose potential impacts to aquatic species; thus, understanding the attenuation dynamics in the field and characterizing the prominent attenuation mechanisms of pharmaceuticals and their transformation products (TPs) is critical for hazard assessments. Herein, we determined the attenuation dynamics and the associated prominent mechanisms of pharmaceuticals and their corresponding TPs via a combined long-term field study and controlled laboratory experiments. For the field study, we quantified spatiotemporal exposure concentrations of five pharmaceuticals and six associated TPs in a small, temperate-region effluent-dominated stream during baseflow conditions where the wastewater plant was the main source of pharmaceuticals. We selected four sites (upstream, at, and two progressively downstream from effluent discharge) and collected water samples at 16 time points (64 samples in total, approximately twice monthly, depending on flows) for 1 year. Concurrently, we conducted photolysis, sorption, and biodegradation batch tests under controlled conditions to determine the major attenuation mechanisms. We observed 10-fold greater attenuation rates in the field compared to batch tests, demonstrating that connecting laboratory batch tests with field measurements to enhance predictive power is a critical need. Batch systems alone, often used for assessment, are useful for determining fate processes but poorly approximate in-stream attenuation kinetics. Sorption was the dominant attenuation process (t_1/2<7.7 d) for 5 of 11 compounds in the batch tests, while the other compounds (n = 6) persisted in the batch tests and along the 5.1 km stream reach. In-stream parent-to-product transformation was minimal. Differential attenuation contributed to the evolving pharmaceutical mixture and created changing exposure conditions with concomitant implications for aquatic and terrestrial biota. Tandem field and laboratory characterization can better inform modeling efforts for transport and risk assessments.