Substratum-associated microbiota

Abstract

This survey of 2018 literature on substratum-associated microbiota presents brief highlights on research findings from primarily freshwaters, but includes those from a variety of aquatic ecosystems. Coverage of topics associated with benthic algae and cyanobacteria, though not comprehensive, includes new methods, taxa new to science, nutrient dynamics, trophic interactions, herbicides and other pollutants, metal contaminants, nuisance, bloom-forming and harmful algae, bioassessment, and bioremediation. Coverage of bacteria, also not comprehensive, focused on methylation of mercury, metal contamination, toxins, and other environmental pollutants, including oil, as well as the use of benthic bacteria as bioindicators, in bioassessment tools and in biomonitoring. Additionally, we cover trends in recent and emerging topics on substratum-associated microbiota of relevance to the Water Environment Federation. Practitioner points: This review of literature from 2018 on substratum-associated microbiota presents highlights of findings on algae, cyanobacteria, and bacteria from primarily freshwaters. Topics covered that focus on algae and cyanobacteria include findings on new methods, taxa new to science, nutrient dynamics, trophic interactions, herbicides and other pollutants, metal contaminants, nuisance, bloomforming and harmful algae, bioassessment, and bioremediation. Topics covered that focus on bacteria include findings on methylation of mercury, metal contamination, toxins and other environmental pollutants, including oil, as well as the us e of benthic bacteria as bioindicators, in bioassessment tools and in biomonitoring. A brief presentation of new, noteworthy and emerging topics on substratum-associated microbiota, build on those from 2017, to highlight those of particular relevance to the Water Environment Federation.