Copper bioavailability and impact on bacterial growth in flow-through rainbow trout aquaculture systems

TY - JOUR

T1 - Copper bioavailability and impact on bacterial growth in flow-through rainbow trout aquaculture systems

AU - Tom-Petersen, Andreas

AU - Brandt, Kristian Koefoed

AU - Nybroe, Ole

AU - Jørgensen, Niels O. G.

PY - 2011/12/21

Y1 - 2011/12/21

N2 - Copper is an important additive in the aquaculture industry for control of algal growth and ecto-parasites. However, copper may impact microbial communities depending on its biological availability and hence negatively affect microbial degradation of organic matter or other microbial ecosystem services. Here we applied a whole-cell bacterial biosensor to determine copper bioavailability (proportion of bioavailable vs. total copper) in water from three rainbow trout aquaculture facilities. Copper bioavailability varied between 24 and 37% and the differences were compatible with differences in carbonate alkalinity, concentration of dissolved organic matter and amounts of suspended matter in the water. Subsequently, we determined the effect of copper on bacterial growth activity at concentrations realistic for aquacultures. Although a field exposure to ca. 0.1 μM bioavailable Cu had no effect, laboratory exposure to comparable concentrations reduced the bacterial growth activity. Hence, common copper amendment procedures may lead to concentrations close to the threshold that impacts bacterial activity.

AB - Copper is an important additive in the aquaculture industry for control of algal growth and ecto-parasites. However, copper may impact microbial communities depending on its biological availability and hence negatively affect microbial degradation of organic matter or other microbial ecosystem services. Here we applied a whole-cell bacterial biosensor to determine copper bioavailability (proportion of bioavailable vs. total copper) in water from three rainbow trout aquaculture facilities. Copper bioavailability varied between 24 and 37% and the differences were compatible with differences in carbonate alkalinity, concentration of dissolved organic matter and amounts of suspended matter in the water. Subsequently, we determined the effect of copper on bacterial growth activity at concentrations realistic for aquacultures. Although a field exposure to ca. 0.1 μM bioavailable Cu had no effect, laboratory exposure to comparable concentrations reduced the bacterial growth activity. Hence, common copper amendment procedures may lead to concentrations close to the threshold that impacts bacterial activity.

U2 - 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2011.09.038

DO - 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2011.09.038

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0044-8486

VL - 322-323

SP - 259

EP - 262

JO - Aquaculture

JF - Aquaculture

ER -