Responses of biofilms to combined nutrient and metal exposure

Numerous studies have reported marked sensitivities of diatom species to phosphate and organic pollution but have ignored interactions with other common contaminants. The aim of the present study was to investigate the single and joint effects of increased phosphate and metal (cadmium, zinc) concentrations on benthic diatom communities. Microalgal biofilms from a relatively unpolluted stream were exposed in the laboratory to Zn, Cd, and P, separately and in combination, in concentrations found at a polluted stream in the same catchment. The Zn concentration reduced algal growth in biofilms more than the Cd concentration. Phosphate compensated for the single effect of each metal but not for their combined effects. Diatom community changes were evaluated using water quality indices based on the empirical sensitivities of taxa to nutrients (TDI) and organic pollution (%PTV). Phosphate exposure resulted in an increase of the eutrophy rank and presumed pollution-tolerant taxa. In contrast, exposure to Zn, Zn+Cd, and Zn+Cd+P caused a marked reduction of the TDI and %PTV community values. The successional trends in the laboratory matched the observed differences in microphyte communities in the reference and polluted river stations. However, the autoecology of the species present also revealed that the resulting composition of diatom communities cannot be attributed solely to the direct toxic effects of metal and nutrients and their interaction. Observed changes in the relative abundance of species are also determined by their growth form and microdistribution in biofilms.