A multivariate view of periphyton community structure in a mesocosm ecotoxicology study

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:85942

Guckert, J B; Belanger, S E; Lowe, R ^[1]

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1. Procter and Gamble, Cincinnati, OH (United States)

Periphyton community structure was evaluated during an 8-week stream mesocosm ecotoxicological study with the surfactant alkyl ethoxylate sulfate. A total of 202 algal taxa were present in the mesocosm periphyton. Algal taxonomy was evaluated using multivariate principal component analysis (PCA). By week 4 the 774 {micro}g/L stream was well-separated from the rest of the streams. The relationship between individual algal species and the separation of the 774 {micro}g/L stream can be evaluated from the PCA loadings. Three groups of algal taxa were identified from PCA loadings which had different ecological trajectories through the experiment. The evaluation of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles was also used to monitor periphyton community structure changes. The PLFA profiles were evaluated by PCA as above, and the results were similar to the algal taxonomy results. By week 4, the 774 {micro}g/L stream PLFA profiles had changed, and profiles remained different from other streams through week 8. The PCA loadings for PLFA suggest that the 774 {micro}g/L stream periphyton response was due to an enrichment of a specific group of bacteria. This indicates that PLFA profiles were not merely responding to algal taxonomy changes. Multivariate analysis of periphyton community structure is, therefore, a powerful tool for understanding ecotoxicological responses as well as ecological relationships.

• OSTI ID: 85942
• Report Number(s): CONF-9410273--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ALGAE
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
FORECASTING
MICROCOSMS
SENSITIVITY
STREAMS
SURFACTANTS
TOXICITY
WATER POLLUTION