Selection of aquatic microbiota exposed to the herbicides flufenacet and metazachlor

Abstract

Herbicides are important, ubiquitous environmental contaminants, but little is known about their interaction with bacterial aquatic communities. Here, we sampled a protected natural freshwater habitat and characterised its microbiome in interaction with herbicides. We evolved the freshwater microbiomes in a microcosm assay of exposure (28 days) to flufenacet and metazachlor at environmental concentrations of 0.5, 5 and 50 μg L−1. Inhibitory effects of herbicides were exemplarily assessed in cultured bacteria from the same pond (Pseudomonas alcaligenes, Paenibacillus amylolyticus and Microbacterium hominis). Findings were compared to long‐term concentrations as provided by local authorities. Here, environmental concentrations reached up to 11 μg L−1 (flufenacet) and 76 μg L−1 (metazachlor). Bacteria were inhibited at minimum inhibitory concentrations far above these values; however, concentrations of 50 μg L−1 of flufenacet resulted in measurable growth impairment. While most herbicide‐exposed microcosm assays did not differ from controls, Acidobacteria were selected at high environmental concentrations of herbicides. Alpha‐diversity (e.g., taxonomic richness on phylum level) was reduced when aquatic microbiomes were exposed to 50 μg metazachlor or flufenacet. One environmental strain of P. alcaligenes showed resistance to high concentrations of flufenacet (50 g L−1). In total, this study reveals that ecologic imbalance due to herbicide use significantly impacts aquatic microbiomes.