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Phosphorus is one of the important factors to successfully establish the microalgal-bacterial symbiosis (MABS) system. The migration and transformation of phosphorus can occur in various ways, and the effects of phosphate on the MABS system facing environmental impacts like heavy metal stress are often ignored. This study investigated the roles of phosphate on the response of the MABS system to zinc ion (Zn2+). The results showed that the pollutant removal effect in the MABS system was significantly reduced, and microbial growth and activity were inhibited with the presence of Zn2+. When phosphate and Zn2+ coexisted, the inhibition effects of pollutants removal and microbial growth rate were mitigated compared to that of only with the presence of Zn2+, with the increasing rates of 28.3% for total nitrogen removal, 48.9% for chemical oxygen demand removal, 78.3% for chlorophyll-a concentration, and 13.3% for volatile suspended solids concentration. When phosphate was subsequently supplemented in the MABS system after adding Zn2+, both pollutants removal efficiency and microbial growth and activity were not recovered. Thus, the inhibition effect of Zn2+ on the MABS system was irreversible. Further analysis showed that Zn2+ preferentially combined with phosphate could form chemical precipitate, which reduced the fixation of MABS system for Zn2+ through extracellular adsorption and intracellular uptake. Under Zn2+ stress, the succession of microbial communities occurred, and Parachlorella was more tolerant to Zn2+. This study revealed the comprehensive response mechanism of the co-effects of phosphate and Zn2+ on the MABS system, and provided some insights for the MABS system treating wastewater containing heavy metals, as well as migration and transformation of heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems. [Display omitted] • The role of phosphate on MABS system under Zn2+ stress was investigated. • Phosphate alleviated but did not eliminate Zn2+ inhibition on MABS system. • Co-precipitation of phosphate with Zn2+ and biosorption occurred simultaneously. • Zn2+ inhibition was irreversible and induced the growth of tolerant microorganisms. • Both successions of microalgal and bacterial communities were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgal-bacterial symbiosis (MABS) system performs synergistic effect on the reduction of nutrients and carbon emissions in the water treatment process. However, antimicrobial agents are frequently detected in water, which influence the performance of MABS system. In this study, triclosan (TCS) was selected to reveal the effects and mechanisms of antimicrobial agents on MABS system. Results showed that the removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand, NH 4 +-N and total phosphorus decreased by 3.0%, 24.0% and 14.3% under TCS stress. In contrast, there were no significant decrease on the removal effect of total nitrogen. Mechanism analysis showed that both the growth rate of microorganisms and the nutrients retention capacity of extracellular polymeric substances were decreased. The intracellular accumulation for nitrogen and phosphorus was promoted due to the increased cytomembrane permeability caused by lipid peroxidation. Moreover, microalgae were dominant in MABS system with ratio between microalgae and bacteria of more than 5.49. The main genus was Parachlorella , with abundance of more than 90%. Parachlorella was highly tolerant to TCS, which might be conductive to maintain its survival. This study revealed the nutrients pathways of MABS system under TCS stress, and helped to optimize the operation of MABS system. [Display omitted] • The MABS system with or without EPS exfoliation were used to reveal TCS' effects. • The removal of COD, NH 4 +-N and TP decreased while TN removal was not affected. • Microbial assimilation, EPS adsorption and bio-accumulation were affected by TCS. • The dominant microalgal and bacterial species were Parachlorella and Rhodococcus. • Microalgae played leading roles on assimilation and bio-accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A study was conducted on a long-term (13 years) tillage and rotation experiment on black soil in northeast China to determine the effects of tillage, time and soil depth on soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC). Tillage systems included no tillage (NT), ridge tillage (RT) and mouldboard plough (MP). Soil sampling was done at 0-5, 5-10 and 10-20 cm depths in June, August and September, 2013, and April, 2014 in the corn phase of corn-soybean rotation plots. MBC content was measured by the chloroform fumigation extraction (CFE) method. The results showed that the MBC content varied with sampling time and soil depth. Soil MBC content was the lowest in April for all three tillage systems, and was highest in June for MP, and highest in August for NT and RT. At each sampling time, tillage system had a significant effect on soil MBC content only in the top 0-5 cm layer. The MBC content showed obvious stratification under NT and RT with a higher MBC content in the top 0-5 cm layer than under MP. The stratification ratios under NT and RT were greatest in September when they were respectively 67.8% and 95.5% greater than under MP. Our results showed that soil MBC contents were greatly affected by the time and soil depth, and were more apparently accumulated in the top layer under NT and RT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]