Microperiphyton development in lakes and reservoirs

Abstract

Biofilms play an important role in the material flux of lakes and other aquatic ecosystems, but little is known about the mechanisms controlling their community structure under natural conditions. In the present study, we focused on the use of artificial substrates for the life strategies of microbial communities investigation. Heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) are known as most important grazers of bacteria in the biofilm communities. The Choanoflagellida have an essential role in microbial food webs contributing to a process of self-purification of water bodies as well as sponge choanocytes, filtering large water volumes. Effects of Cyanobacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms on sponges are very similar to the same effects on Choanoflagellida and HNF in the early phase of biofilm colonization. Standard microbial biofilms (model communities) can serve for ecorobots development.