Constructed wetlands for the remediation of cyanotoxins: unrevealing their microbial mechanisms

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Abstract

Climate change will increase temperatures and cause events of drought around the globe. This, together with the excess use of fertilizers in agricultural fields is leading to eutrophication and shortage of freshwater reservoirs. Drought-vulnerable communities are using eutrophicated water for crop irrigation and sometimes cyanobacterial biomass and toxins are heavily present in eutrophicated water bodies. Consequently, direct and indirect human consumption of cyanotoxins may happen, leading to cytotoxic pathologies. Nature-based- technologies such as constructed wetlands are attractive tools for both pollutant remediation and climate change mitigation.
We propose to apply vertical-flow constructed wetlands for remediation of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins while recycling excess nutrients for crop irrigation. However, little is known about the core processes occurring in these systems. Our hypothesis is that microbial biodegradation carries out the removal processes.
We set up thirty-two vertical-flow constructed wetland mesocosms with different experimental treatments with synthetic eutrophic water containing microcystin-LR and cylindrospermopsin. We perform end-point water measurements, 16S amplicon community sequencing and mlrA qPCR. Furthermore, we use liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectroscopy to screen for cyanotoxins and their metabolites.
Removal rates will be determined. Metabolites of cyanotoxins are being identified, as well as the microbial community structure and presence of degrader genes. Several variable correlations were already found that explain the cyanotoxin removal dynamics in our systems. Initial data on the microbial community structure will be discussed at the conference. We strive to understand how the system’s microbiome reacts and acts to ensure a safe design and operation of the CWs to remove cyanotoxins.
Original languageEnglish
Publication date2024
Publication statusPublished - 2024
EventISME18 2022 - Lausanne, Switzerland
Duration: 14 Aug 202219 Sept 2022
https://isme18.isme-microbes.org/

Conference

ConferenceISME18 2022
Country/TerritorySwitzerland
CityLausanne
Period14/08/202219/09/2022
Internet address

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