Use of the MicroResp™ method to assess pollution-induced community tolerance to metals for lotic biofilms.
Understanding the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems and the impact of anthropogenic contamination requires correlating exposure to toxicants with impact on biological communities. Several tools exist for assessing the ecotoxicity of substances, but there is still a need for new tools that are ecologically relevant and easy to use. We have developed a protocol based on the substrate-induced respiration of a river biofilm community, using the MicroResp™ technique, in a pollution-induced community tolerance approach. The results show that MicroResp™ can be used in bioassays to assess the toxicity toward biofilm communities of a wide range of metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Ag, Ni, Fe, Co, Al and As). Moreover, a community-level physiological profile based on the mineralization of different carbon substrates was established. Finally, the utility of MicroResp™ was confirmed in an in-situ study showing gradient of tolerance to copper correlated to a contamination gradient of this metal in a small river.
CEMAGREF, UR MAEP, 3 quai Chauveau CP, 69336 Lyon Cedex 09, France. Electronic address: ahmed.tlili@cemagref.fr.
Ahmed
A
Tlili
CEMAGREF, UR MAEP, 3 quai Chauveau CP, 69336 Lyon Cedex 09, France. Electronic address: marjorie.marechal@cemagref.fr.
Marjorie
M
Marechal
CEMAGREF, UR MAEP, 3 quai Chauveau CP, 69336 Lyon Cedex 09, France. Electronic address: bernard.montuelle@cemagref.fr.
Bernard
B
Montuelle
CEMAGREF, UR MAEP, 3 quai Chauveau CP, 69336 Lyon Cedex 09, France. Electronic address: bernadette.volat@cemagref.fr.
Bernadette
B
Volat
INRA UMR CARRTEL, Laboratoire de Microbiologie Aquatique, BP 511, 74203 Thonon Cedex, France. Electronic address: ursula.dorigo@thonon.inra.fr.
Ursula
U
Dorigo
INRA UMR CSE-EMMAH 1114, Domaine Saint-Paul, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon Cedex 9, France. Electronic address: annette.berard@avignon.inra.fr.
Annette
A
Bérard
D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000633:toxicity*
D019216:Metals, Heavy