Chemical contamination alters the interactions between bacteria and phytoplankton

Type Article
Date 2021-09
Language English
Author(s) Pringault OlivierORCID1, 2, 3, Bouvy Marc2, Carre Claire2, Mejri Kaouther3, Bancon-Montigny ChrystelleORCID4, Gonzalez Catherine5, Leboulanger Christophe2, Hlaili Asma Sakka.3, 6, Goni-Urriza Marisol7
Affiliation(s) 1 : Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288, Marseille, France
2 : MARBEC Univ Montpellier, IRD, Ifremer, Montpellier, France
3 : Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Université de Carthage, 7021 Zarzouna, Bizerte, Tunisie
4 : UMR 5569 HydroSciences HSM Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD CC57 34090 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
5 : IMT Mines Alès, 6 Avenue de Clavières, 30319 Alès Cedex, France
6 : Laboratoir D’Ecologie, de Biologie et de Physiologie des Organismes Aquatiques, LR18ES41, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, France
7 : Universite de Pau et des Pays de L’Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, 64000, Pau, France
Source Chemosphere (0045-6535) (Elsevier BV), 2021-09 , Vol. 278 , P. 130457 (14p.)
DOI 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130457
WOS© Times Cited 6
Keyword(s) Pesticides, Trace metal elements, Coastal ecosystems, Phytoplankton-bacterioplankton networks
Abstract

Bacteria and phytoplankton are key players in aquatic ecosystem functioning. Their interactions mediate carbon transfer through the trophic web. Chemical contamination can alter the function and diversity of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton, with important consequences for ecosystem functioning. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of chemical contamination on the interactions between both biological compartments. Two contrasting marine coastal ecosystems, offshore waters and lagoon waters, were exposed to chemical contamination (artificial or produced from resuspension of contaminated sediment) in microcosms in four seasons characterized by distinct phytoplankton communities. Offshore waters were characterized by a complex phytoplankton–bacterioplankton network with a predominance of positive interactions between both compartments, especially with Haptophyta, Cryptophyta, and dinoflagellates. In contrast, for lagoon waters, the phytoplankton–bacterioplankton network was simpler with a prevalence of negative interactions with Ochrophyta, Cryptophyta, and flagellates. Contamination with an artificial mix of pesticides and trace metal elements resulted in a decrease in the number of interactions between phytoplankton and bacterioplankton, especially for offshore waters. Resuspension of contaminated sediment also altered the interactions between both compartments. The release of nutrients stored in the sediment allowed the growth of nutrient limited phytoplankton species with marked consequences for the interactions with bacterioplankton, with a predominance of positive interactions, whereas in lagoon waters, negative interactions were mostly observed. Overall, this study showed that chemical contamination and sediment resuspension resulted in significant effects on phytoplankton–bacterioplankton interactions that can alter the functioning of anthropogenic coastal ecosystems.

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