Ecología funcional de las algas perifíticas en el Chocó colombiano: limitación de recursos, competencia y variables ambientales / Functional ecology of periphytic algae in the Colombian Chocó: resource limitations, competition, and environmental variables

Introducción: El conocimiento de las comunidades perifíticas es importante, dada su participación en la producción primaria de los ambientes fluviales; además, el perifiton es una valiosa comunidad bioindicadora. No obstante, hasta la fecha es poco lo que se conoce sobre la ecología funcional de esta comunidad en los ríos colombianos. Objetivo: En este trabajo se buscó caracterizar algunos aspectos funcionales de la comunidad de ficoperifiton de cuatro sistemas lóticos de la Reserva Natural La Planada, ubicada en el departamento de Nariño, Colombia. Métodos: Durante mayo de 2019, en cada río se establecieron entre uno y tres sitios de muestreo, en los cuales se midieron las características hidrológicas y fisicoquímicas y se determinó la composición taxonómica y algunos rasgos funcionales de las comunidades de algas perifíticas. Se calcularon la media ponderada comunitaria (MPC) y la varianza ponderada comunitaria (VPC) de estos rasgos y se exploró su relación con las variables abióticas mediante regresiones, correlaciones y análisis de correspondencia canónica (ACC). Resultados: Se registraron 59 géneros de algas, de los cuales a 47 se les midieron los rasgos funcionales. La MPC del rasgo exoesqueleto silíceo fue estadísticamente mayor en la quebrada El Tejón. La MPC y la VPC de los demás rasgos no varió entre ríos, pero en algunos de ellos la presencia de mucílago y la organización en filamentos tendió a ser mayor. La amplia fluctuación de la VPC de todos los rasgos funcionales parece señalar que estas comunidades ficoperifíticas no tienen limitaciones de recursos, la competencia es reducida y las especies tienden a ser funcionalmente diferentes. Las variables ambientales con mayor influencia fueron el caudal, la mineralización del agua, el pH y la transparencia. La presencia de mucílago se asoció con la dureza del agua y el predominio de algas filamentosas con la transparencia; el pH influyó positivamente la relación superficie/volumen (S/V). Conclusiones: Este estudio constituye una línea base que permitirá evaluar cambios en las comunidades de algas bentónicas ante posibles intervenciones y brindar pautas para eventuales acciones de restauración de los sistemas fluviales de esta región de importancia mundial por su elevada biodiversidad.

Introduction: Knowledge on the periphytic community is essential because of its central role in river primary production. Also, periphyton is a valuable bioindicator of the community. However, to the date, little is known about the functional ecology of these communities in Colombian rivers. Objective: This work sought to characterize functional aspects of the phycoperiphytic community of four lotic systems of the La Planada Natural Reserve, located in the Department of Nariño, Colombia. Methods: In May 2019, between one and three sampling sites were established in each river. Hydrological and physicochemical variables were measured. Periphyton was sample to determine the taxonomic composition of the benthic algae as well as some functional traits. From these traits, the community weighted mean (CWM) and community weighted variance (CWV) were calculated, and their relation with abiotic variables was explored using regressions, correlations, and a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Results: 59 genera of algae were recorded, from which 47 had its functional traits measured. The CWM of the siliceous exoskeleton trait was statistically higher in El Tejón creek. The other traits had similar CWM and CWV values in all rivers. However, the traits of the presence of mucilage and organization in filaments showed predominance in some streams. The fluctuating data of CWV in all rivers seem to indicate that these phycoperiphytic communities have no resource limitations, competition is low, and species tend to be functionally different. The environmental variables with the greatest influence were flow, water mineralization, pH, and water transparency. The hardness of the water and the presence of mucilage were associated, while the predominance of filamentous algae was related to transparency; pH positively influenced the surface/volume ratio (S/V). Conclusions: This study represents a baseline that will allow evaluating changes in the benthic algae communities in the face of possible interventions and providing guidelines for eventual actions to restore the river systems of this important region due to its high biodiversity.

Biofilm-forming capacity of two benthic microalgae, Navicula incerta and Navicula sp., on three substrates (Naviculales: Naviculaceae)

Benthic microalgae have the natural capacity to adhere to a diversity of fixed submerged substrates to form biofilms, which have important roles not only in natural ecosystems, but also in aquaculture systems. An experimental investigation was performed to assess the biofilm-forming capacity of two microalgae (Navicula incerta and Navicula sp.) on three different substrates (plastic net, fabric, and wood) under controlled temperature and light conditions. The substrates were arranged on curtains suspended from a wood stick, into plastic aquariums (45 L in capacity) filled with filtered marine water enriched with F/2 medium. The trial was carried out until the exponential growing phase of the microalgae was reached. After that, the incorporated biomass was gravimetrically calculated, and its biochemical composition was determined by standard methods. The greatest amount of incorporated dry matter was observed for Navicula sp. on fabric and the lowest was observed for wood. The highest number of cells associated with the biofilm was obtained for Navicula sp. on the plastic net (1.24 x 109 cells/m2), while the lowest was recorded for Navicula sp. on the wood (1.43 x 108 cells/m2). Significant differences in organic matter were found among the substrates, with the highest values for N. incerta on the fabric (3.22 g/m2) and the lowest for Navicula sp. on the wood (0.02 g/m2). The best biochemical profiles among the formed biofilms were observed for N. incerta on the plastic net and Navicula sp. on the fabric. The plastic net was considered the best substrate because of the stability of the biofilm and the easiness of harvesting the biomass.

Las microalgas bentónicas tienen la capacidad natural de adherirse a diversos sustratos fijos sumergidos para formar biopelículas, las cuales tienen roles importantes no solo en ecosistemas naturales sino también en sistemas de producción acuícolas. Se llevó a cabo una investigación experimental para evaluar la capacidad formadora de biopelículas de dos microalgas bentónicas (Navicula incerta y Navicula sp.) en tres diferentes sustratos (malla plástica, tela y madera), bajo condiciones controladas de temperatura y luz. Los sustratos fueron arreglados a manera de cortinas suspendidas de un tubo de PVC dentro de acuarios de plástico (45 L de capacidad) con agua marina enriquecida con el medio F/2. El experimento se llevó hasta que la fase de crecimiento exponencial de la microalga fue alcanzada. Posteriormente la biomasa incorporada fue calculada gravimétricamente, y su composición bioquímica fue determinada por métodos estándar. La mayor cantidad de materia seca se observó para N. incerta en el sustrato de tela y la menor se encontró en el de madera. El mayor número de células asociadas a la biopelícula fue registrado para Navicula sp. en malla plástica (1.24 x 109 cel/m2), mientras que el menor se encontró para Navicula sp. en madera (1.43 x 108 cels/m2). Diferencias significativas en cuanto a materia orgánica se encontraron entre los sustratos y las especies, con valores más altos para N. incerta en tela (3.22 g/m2) y más bajos para Navicula sp. en madera (0.02 ± 0.05 g/m2). Los mejores perfiles bioquímicos para las biopelículas correspondieron a las formadas por N. incerta sobre malla plástica y Navicula sp. sobre tela. La red de plástico se consideró el mejor sustrato debido a la estabilidad de la biopelícula y la facilidad para cosechar la biomasa.

Inhibition of Nitzschia ovalis biofilm settlement by a bacterial bioactive compound through alteration of EPS and epiphytic bacteria

Background: Marine ecosystems contain benthic microalgae and bacterial species that are capable of secreting extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), suggesting that settlement of these microorganisms can occur on submerged surfaces, a key part of the first stage of biofouling. Currently, anti-fouling treatments that help control this phenomenon involve the use of biocides or antifouling paints that contain heavy metals, which over a long period of exposure can spread to the environment. The bacterium Alteromonas sp. Ni1-LEM has an inhibitory effect on the adhesion of Nitzschia ovalis, an abundant diatom found on submerged surfaces. Results: We evaluated the effect of the bioactive compound secreted by this bacterium on the EPS of biofilms and associated epiphytic bacteria. Three methods of EPS extraction were evaluated to determine the most appropriate and efficient methodology based on the presence of soluble EPS and the total protein and carbohydrate concentrations. Microalgae were cultured with the bacterial compound to evaluate its effect on EPS secretion and variations in its protein and carbohydrate concentrations. An effect of the bacterial supernatant on EPS was observed by assessing biofilm formation and changes in the concentration of proteins and carbohydrates present in the biofilm. Conclusions: These results indicate that a possible mechanism for regulating biofouling could be through alteration of biofilm EPS and alteration of the epiphytic bacterial community associated with the microalga.