A methodological proposal to investigate the long term storage of pollutants in freshwater sediment biofilms and their response to environmental disturbances.

SHARPE, Rebecca, HOLMES, Naomi and DOUTERELO, Isabel (2016). A methodological proposal to investigate the long term storage of pollutants in freshwater sediment biofilms and their response to environmental disturbances. In: British Society for Geomorphology Annual Meeting, Plymouth, 5th - 7th September 2016. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

This research will review novel methodologies for understanding the behaviour of microbial communities and their role in pollution storage. Freshwater sediments are inhabited by attached microbial communities (biofilms) which are responsible for the majority of a river's metabolic activity. Biofilms thus provide valuable information on the environmental quality of the river and its surrounding areas. Despite remediation of freshwater sediments, biofilms can still store large quantities of pollutants. Biofilms have the exceptional capacity to adjust to new conditions including natural and anthropogenic environmental disturbances. Gaining a more comprehensive understanding of biofilm behaviour is therefore fundamental to developing improved management strategies. The initial focus of this research will be in the River Doe Lea in North East Derbyshire. The River Doe Lea extends 18km from the South at its source near Tibshelf, to the North at its discharge at the River Rother. In the 1990s the River was famed for having the highest level of dioxins in the world, 27 times higher than the second most polluted. The acute cause of this was a single pollutant event, however the river has also been subjected to long term anthropogenic pollution through industry, agriculture, transport (railways, M1) and wastewater pollution. While previous studies by the Environment Agency have focused on the flow, chemical, biological and ecological quality of the river, no research has been conducted into the role and behaviour of biofilms.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Poster)
Departments - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities > Department of Natural and Build Environment
Depositing User: Naomi Holmes
Date Deposited: 06 Dec 2016 11:33
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 16:01
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/14193

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