AUTHOR=Espinosa Carmen , Abril Meritxell , Guasch Helena , Pou Núria , Proia Lorenzo , Ricart Marta , Ordeix Marc , Llenas Laia TITLE=Water Flow and Light Availability Influence on Intracellular Geosmin Production in River Biofilms JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology VOLUME=10 YEAR=2020 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.03002 DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2019.03002 ISSN=1664-302X ABSTRACT=
Hydro-morphological alterations in water bodies caused by climate change and human activities affects the ecosystem functioning and generate important water quality problems. Some of these alterations can generate an increase in cyanobacterial blooms, which are associated with the appearance of bad taste and odorous compounds such as geosmin. The factors that trigger their production are still unclear, and this inability to predict geosmin episodes provokes economic problems for water supply companies. This study aims to evaluate the effects of water flow and light availability on biofilm development and intracellular geosmin formation. A mesocosm experiment was performed between February–April, 2019. The mesocosms were a set of 10 outdoor 3 m long flumes, with a continuous water supply from the Ter river (Catalonia, NE Spain). Two light intensities were established: natural light and light reduced to 80%, combined with five gradual water flows from 0.09 to 1.10 L/s. Water samples were taken to analyze nutrients, and biofilm samples, to analyze geosmin concentration, chlorophyll