Publication: Membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment plants reveal diverse yeast and protist communities of potential significance in biofouling
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Publication Date
2015
Authors
Liébana, Raquel
Arregui García-Rovés, Lucía
Gamella, Luis
Santos de la Sen, Antonio
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Publisher
Taylor & Francis
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Abstract
The yeast community was studied in a municipal full-scale membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment plant (MBR-WWTP). The unexpectedly high diversity of yeasts indicated that the activated sludge formed a suitable environment for them to proliferate, with cellular concentrations of 2.2 ± 0.8 × 103 CFU ml−1 . Sixteen species of seven genera were present in the biological reactor, with Ascomycetes being the most prevalent group (93%). Most isolates were able to grow in a synthetic wastewater medium, adhere to polyethylene surfaces, and develop biofilms of variable complexity. The relationship between yeast populations and the protists in the MBR-WWTP was also studied, revealing that some protist species preyed on and ingested yeasts. These results suggest that yeast populations may play a role in the food web of a WWTP and, to some extent, contribute to membrane biofouling in MBR systems.