Open AccessMass-immigration determines the assembly of activated sludge microbial communities
Author(s) -
Giulia Dottorini,
Thomas Yssing Michaelsen,
Sergey Kucheryavskiy,
Kasper Skytte Andersen,
Jannie Munk Kristensen,
Miriam Peces,
Dorottya Sarolta Wágner,
Marta Nierychlo,
Per Halkjær Nielsen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2021589118
Subject(s) - microbial population biology , sewage treatment , immigration , community structure , activated sludge , ecology , biology , environmental science , environmental engineering , geography , bacteria , genetics , archaeology
Significance Wastewater treatment plants are engineering technologies used worldwide to protect the environment and human health. Microbial communities sustain these plants, so it is crucial to know the key factors responsible for the community assembly. We show, in contrast to existing understanding, that microbial immigration largely controls the community structure in these plants and that the fate (growth or death) of immigrating species in the plants is controlled by local factors. The community structure was quantitatively predicted by the immigrating microbial community, highlighting the need to revise the way we today understand, design, and manage microbial communities in wastewater treatment plants.