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Diversity of Dominant Bacterial Taxa in Activated Sludge Promotes Functional Resistance following Toxic Shock Loading

  • Environmental Microbiology
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Abstract

Examining the relationship between biodiversity and functional stability (resistance and resilience) of activated sludge bacterial communities following disturbance is an important first step towards developing strategies for the design of robust biological wastewater treatment systems. This study investigates the relationship between functional resistance and biodiversity of dominant bacterial taxa by subjecting activated sludge samples, with different levels of biodiversity, to toxic shock loading with cupric sulfate (Cu[II]), 3,5-dichlorophenol (3,5-DCP), or 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). Respirometric batch experiments were performed to determine the functional resistance of activated sludge bacterial community to the three toxicants. Functional resistance was estimated as the 30 min IC50 or the concentration of toxicant that results in a 50% reduction in oxygen utilization rate compared to a referential state represented by a control receiving no toxicant. Biodiversity of dominant bacterial taxa was assessed using polymerase chain reaction-terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-T-RFLP) targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene. Statistical analysis of 30 min IC50 values and PCR-T-RFLP data showed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) between functional resistance and microbial diversity for each of the three toxicants tested. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing a positive correlation between biodiversity of dominant bacterial taxa in activated sludge and functional resistance. In this system, activated sludge bacterial communities with higher biodiversity are functionally more resistant to disturbance caused by toxic shock loading.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Brian Kinkle, Bruce Rittmann, Makram Suidan, and Jim Young for useful discussion. Financial support from the National Science Foundation to Daniel B. Oerther (BES 0238858) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Desalination and Reuse Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Pascal E. Saikaly

  2. Division of Chemical and Life Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia

    Pascal E. Saikaly

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

    Pascal E. Saikaly

  4. Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, 65409, USA

    Daniel B. Oerther

  5. Environmental Research Center, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, 65409, USA

    Daniel B. Oerther

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  1. Pascal E. Saikaly
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Correspondence to Pascal E. Saikaly.

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Saikaly, P.E., Oerther, D.B. Diversity of Dominant Bacterial Taxa in Activated Sludge Promotes Functional Resistance following Toxic Shock Loading. Microb Ecol 61, 557–567 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-010-9783-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-010-9783-6

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