Water Research最新文献

{"title":"Exploring efficient mainstream nitrogen removal by partial nitrification/anammox under limited COD condition in a pilot-scale membrane aerated biofilm reactor","authors":"Lisheng Wang ,&nbsp;Congcong Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaofeng Kang ,&nbsp;Yanchen Liu ,&nbsp;Yong Qiu ,&nbsp;Deqing Wanyan ,&nbsp;Jiayin Liu ,&nbsp;Gang Cheng ,&nbsp;Pengfei Lin ,&nbsp;Xia Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.watres.2026.125398","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watres.2026.125398","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The integration of partial nitrification/anammox (PN/A) into membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) is a promisingly energy-efficient and high-efficiency technology for nitrogen removal. For the first time, this study investigated the practicability and stability in the combined pilot-scale MABR unit and anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB)-carriers unit to remove nitrogen under limited COD condition by PN/A. About 83% of NH₄⁺-N removal efficiency was realized with the influent flow rate of 2.4 m³/d (i.e. the hydraulic retention time of 12 h) by nitrification in MABR system before the inoculation of AnAOB. The free nitrous acid (FNA) enhanced strategy showed remarkable NOB inactivation and stable PN. After the inoculation of AnAOB, the total nitrogen removal efficiency was 78% with the influent flow rate of 1.2 m³/d, and the percentage of nitrogen removal by PN/A accounted for 55%. The optimizing operational conditions suggest that for an effective strategy to balance water quality and the nitrogen removal rate of the MABR, a proper biofilm thickness controlling strategy is recommend for future practice. The obtained results would further improve our perspectives on NOB inhibition in the pilot-scale MABR system and shed light on the future practical application for a sustainable wastewater treatment by PN/A technology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":443,"journal":{"name":"Water Research","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 125398"},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamic inner-outer dual-cycles drive selective periodate activation for nearly exclusive singlet oxygen production toward sustainable water purification","authors":"Yu Liu ,&nbsp;Rongwei Li ,&nbsp;Lanxuan Wen ,&nbsp;Siqi Li ,&nbsp;Meng Liu ,&nbsp;Xiaoping Li ,&nbsp;Zonghan Huang ,&nbsp;Dahu Ding ,&nbsp;Shengjiong Yang ,&nbsp;Yang Chen ,&nbsp;Rongzhi Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.watres.2026.125400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watres.2026.125400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Selective singlet oxygen (¹O₂) generation via periodate (PI) activation is constrained by radical-mediated competition and insufficient endogenous electron supply at metal centers. Herein, we report a spatially partitioned inner-outer dual-cycle catalytic system, consisting of nitrogen-doped carbon-confined zero-valent cobalt core encapsulated by a MnO₂ shell (Co/NC/MnO₂), which achieves 95.93% ¹O₂ selectivity. The MnO₂ shell orchestrates electron redistribution to drive heterolytic I-O cleavage and O<img>O release, effectively suppressing radical pathways without undergoing significant valency change. Simultaneously, the Co° core acts as an embedded electron donor, continuously supplying electrons through the NC interlayer to sustain concurrent Co/Mn redox cycling. This dynamic synergistic coupling drastically accelerates interfacial kinetics, enabling 100% removal of diverse electron-rich contaminants within 10 min. Furthermore, the system demonstrates outstanding operational stability over 192 h in a continuous-flow reaction, while life cycle assessment (LCA) confirms its low environmental footprint. This work introduces a new architectural paradigm for selective ¹O₂ production via the inner-outer cycle concept and inspires advanced synergistic dual-site engineering for sustainable water purification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":443,"journal":{"name":"Water Research","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 125400"},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electrochemical degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid: Fluorine mass balance and strategies to limit short-chain byproducts","authors":"Dongbao Song ,&nbsp;Biting Qiao ,&nbsp;Qiong Feng ,&nbsp;Yihao Liang ,&nbsp;Yiming Yao ,&nbsp;Hao Chen ,&nbsp;Junfeng Li ,&nbsp;Lijuan Yi ,&nbsp;Hongwen Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.watres.2026.125369","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watres.2026.125369","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electrochemical oxidation offers a promising approach for degrading perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs); however, the coexistence and competition of degradation pathways remain poorly understood. Herein, a range of complementary methodologies was employed to investigate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) degradation using a Pt anode under controlled oxidative conditions. Two representative degradation channels were systematically confirmed, namely Channel 1, involving the formation of short-chain PFCAs, and Channel 2, featuring stepwise defluorination via C_nF_2n+1• and COF₂. A quantitative framework based on fluorine mass balance revealed that Channel 2 accounts for the majority of fluorine release (78.3–82.1%), fundamentally clarifying the dominant mineralization mechanism of PFOA. Trifluoroacetic acid, selected as a structurally simplified model compound, was used to probe the transformation behavior of COF₂ for the first time. The observed defluorination efficiency significantly exceeds the theoretical limit in the absence of COF₂ hydrolysis, providing indirect but compelling evidence for its transformation under electrochemical conditions. The study further reveals that degradation channel selectivity is dynamically regulated by interfacial conditions, with elevated temperatures enhancing the formation of short-chain PFCAs, whereas higher reaction rates accelerate their subsequent degradation. Overall, these findings provide insightful mechanistic understanding of PFCAs degradation and offer theoretical guidance for limiting the formation of persistent short-chain byproducts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":443,"journal":{"name":"Water Research","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 125369"},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145956923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydrological droughts reduce carbon dioxide emission from the Yangtze River networks","authors":"Zhendan Wang ,&nbsp;Dunxian She ,&nbsp;Shaoda Liu ,&nbsp;Xiaoyu Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhihong Song ,&nbsp;Jun Xia","doi":"10.1016/j.watres.2026.125361","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watres.2026.125361","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>River networks release significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere via gas exchanges at water-air interface, profoundly affecting the global carbon cycle. Hydrological drought, characterized by negative anomalies in river discharge, can affect the transport and decomposition of organic matter, thereby significantly impacting riverine CO₂ emissions. However, the extent to which hydrological droughts affect CO₂ emission fluxes remains unanswered. In this study, we developed a framework to quantify the impact of hydrological droughts on CO₂ emissions from the Yangtze River networks. We found that hydrological droughts led to approximately 33 % reduction in CO₂ evasions in Yangtze River networks compared with non-drought periods. Moreover, the reduction in CO₂ emissions across all stream orders of rivers showed significantly positive correlations to drought severity (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). Notably, the emission reduction primarily resulted from river width contraction, which diminished the water-air interface area and consequently limited CO₂ evasion. These findings highlight the importance of deepening our understanding of the impact of hydrological droughts on riverine CO₂ emissions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":443,"journal":{"name":"Water Research","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 125361"},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145956940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ammonium and N₂O production pathways in quaternary hill–plain groundwater: Evidence from multi-isotope and isotopomer analysis","authors":"Bin Ma ,&nbsp;Xiaoning Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhang Wen ,&nbsp;Lili Liang ,&nbsp;Menggui Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.watres.2026.125360","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watres.2026.125360","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) are key reactive nitrogen species in aquatic systems, with implications for water quality and greenhouse gas emissions. However, their sources and transformation pathways in shallow groundwater remain poorly constrained, especially for dynamic redox groundwater in hill-plain transition zones. To address this gap, we investigated nitrogen sources and cycling in the piedmont hilly–plain zone of the Jianghan Plain (central China) by integrating hydrochemistry, nitrogen isotopes (δ¹⁵N<img>NH₄⁺, δ¹⁵N<img>NO₃⁻, δ¹⁸O<img>NO₃⁻), and N₂O isotopomers (δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O, and site preference). A total of 56 water samples were collected during pre- and post-monsoon periods from rivers, lakes, and shallow aquifers. Previously unrecognized spatial patterns and underlying mechanisms controlling nitrate, ammonium, and N₂O along the groundwater flow path from hilly recharge zones to plain discharge areas are identified. δ²H–δ¹⁸O signatures showed that groundwater primarily derives from precipitation, with stronger evaporation effects in surface water. Dissolved N₂O concentrations were significantly higher in groundwater than in surface water, suggesting active subsurface nitrogen cycling. N₂O site preference (SP) and δ¹⁸O–N₂O values revealed coexistence of nitrification and denitrification, with enhanced N₂O reduction in plain aquifers exhibiting more reducing conditions. We quantitatively characterized the distinct N₂O production pathways across the hilly–plain transition zone, revealing the spatial variability in the contributions of nitrification and denitrification to N₂O generation. These results demonstrate that coupling hydro-geochemistry with N₂O isotopomer analysis provides a powerful approach for resolving nitrogen sources and transformation pathways in hydrogeologically complex zones. The findings offer critical insights for managing nitrogen pollution in rapidly developing agricultural plains.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":443,"journal":{"name":"Water Research","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 125360"},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145956964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The retention mechanism of the adherent iron corrosion pipe scale on polystyrene nanoplastics in drinking water distribution systems","authors":"Hanyang Qian ,&nbsp;Jiankai Wu ,&nbsp;Juanjuan Yao ,&nbsp;Shuo Wang ,&nbsp;Meng Zhao ,&nbsp;Naiyun Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.watres.2026.125327","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watres.2026.125327","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The retention mechanism of iron corrosion pipe scales (ICPS), including the adsorption and the hetero-aggregation/co-sedimentation, on polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) was investigated for the first time. Adsorption kinetic results indicated that the equilibrium adsorption capacity was up to 0.244–2.172 mg/cm² with the initial PSNPs concentration of 5–50 mg/L. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm results revealed that the adsorption of PSNPs onto adherent ICPS is multilayer involving chemisorption. Adsorption thermodynamic results suggested that this adsorption was spontaneous, exothermic, and entropy-decreasing. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the intermolecular forces between PSNPs and ICPS are the weak C-H···O and O-H···π hydrogen-bonding, strong O-H···O hydrogen-bonding and Fe-O coordination-bonding forces. The residual chlorine in DWDSs enhances the PSNPs adsorption by introducing stronger O-H···Cl and O-H···O hydrogen bonds. The adsorption was driven by both short-range intermolecular forces and long-range Coulomb electrostatic forces. The adsorption will not be significantly inhibited at conventional drinking water pH, ion strength, and organics content ranges. Significant hetero-aggregation/co-sedimentation between the released ICPS nanoparticles and PSNPs was observed. The α-FeOOH and Fe₃O₄ in ICPS dominate this process, while the γ-FeOOH component enhances the dispersion stability of PSNPs. These results improve our understanding of the NPs fate in DWDSs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":443,"journal":{"name":"Water Research","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 125327"},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145895259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In situ amidation of NH3 in biogas on sludge-derived carbon to promote coexisting CO2 adsorption","authors":"Zhangliang Han ,&nbsp;Aoran Zhang ,&nbsp;Shuofei Yuan ,&nbsp;Xinyue Lu ,&nbsp;Shuangxi Fang ,&nbsp;Juntao Tang ,&nbsp;Da Wang ,&nbsp;Zhiqiao He ,&nbsp;Feilong Dong ,&nbsp;Shuang Song","doi":"10.1016/j.watres.2025.125318","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watres.2025.125318","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>CO₂ adsorption is a highly promising and economically viable method for biogas upgrading. The use of sludge as a precursor for carbon adsorbents is a sustainable solution that helps minimize secondary environmental pollution. Herein, we prepared acid-modified sludge-derived carbon (S-SC) <em>via</em> the KOH activation of SC, followed by the confinement of concentrated H₂SO₄ within its pores. This modification increased the CO₂ adsorption capacity of SC by facilitating the conversion of NH₃, commonly present in biogas, into amides on the carbon surface. Dynamic adsorption tests revealed that S-SC achieved a CO₂ uptake of 5.47 mmol·g⁻¹ at 40 vol.% CO₂ and 1000 ppm NH₃, which is 1.67 times higher than that of unmodified SC. Physicochemical characterization results showed that KOH activation introduced numerous oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of adsorbents and concentrated H₂SO₄ was successfully confined within the pores of S-SC. <em>In situ</em> infrared spectroscopy confirmed the <em>in situ</em> conversion of NH₃ into amides on the surface of S-SC, enhancing its CO₂ adsorption capacity. Based on the Freundlich adsorption model parameters, S-SC exhibited an increased isosteric heat of CO₂ adsorption. Density functional theory calculations showed that S-SC interacted with CO₂ <em>via</em> hydrogen bonding in a bidentate configuration. Moreover, the S-SC adsorbent displayed superior cyclic stability after 20 adsorption–regeneration cycles. The proposed simple and effective strategy, involving the use of S-SC as an adsorbent, has promising potential in biogas upgrading and various CO₂ separation processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":443,"journal":{"name":"Water Research","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 125318"},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145895573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dissolved organic matter in surface sediments along a river-to-ocean continuum: Molecular characteristics and sediment–water exchange dynamics","authors":"Zekun Zhang ,&nbsp;Peng Yao ,&nbsp;Bin Zhao ,&nbsp;Yuanbi Yi ,&nbsp;Zhao Liang Chen ,&nbsp;Chen Zhao ,&nbsp;Ruanhong Cai ,&nbsp;Wenzhao Liang ,&nbsp;Chenglong Wang ,&nbsp;Ding He","doi":"10.1016/j.watres.2025.125238","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watres.2025.125238","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dissolved organic matter in estuarine sediments (SDOM) plays a crucial role in coastal carbon cycles, mediating the transformation, exchange, and sequestration of carbon between sediments and overlying waters. However, the mechanisms that govern the transformation and fate of SDOM in estuarine environments remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a molecular composition analysis of SDOM in the surface sediments of the Changjiang Estuary–East China Sea continuum, using ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry. Building on previous characterizations of stable and radioactive carbon isotopes in dissolved organic carbon and sedimentary organic carbon from surface sediments and bottom waters, this study aimed to track the provenance and age of SDOM at the molecular level. Additionally, by comparing with bottom-water DOM, we sought to elucidate the exchange dynamics of SDOM at the sediment-water interface. Our results indicate that SDOM is more biologically labile than bottom-water DOM, characterized by an enrichment in aliphatic, low-molecular-weight, nitrogen-containing compounds that enhance its susceptibility to microbial degradation. Frequent hydrodynamic disturbances and sediment resuspension in the dynamic mobile mud zone of the inner shelf create a hotspot for DOM exchange between sediments and overlying waters. Active vertical mixing facilitates the downward transport of fresh surface-derived DOM, while riverine particles repeatedly adsorb and release DOM, allowing for the concurrent sequestration and remobilization of both marine and terrestrial DOM. These findings highlight the essential role of SDOM as a highly reactive carbon pool that accelerates OM turnover in large river-dominated ocean margins. Furthermore, this research elucidates the rapid biogeochemical mechanisms driving carbon cycling in estuaries and reveals how SDOM either transforms or preserves OM in sediments, with significant implications for refining global coastal carbon budgets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":443,"journal":{"name":"Water Research","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 125238"},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145796417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydrodynamics regulates microbial degradation of microplastics by modulating bottom-up and top-down effects in a river-lake confluence zone","authors":"Yamei Chen ,&nbsp;Yi Li ,&nbsp;Lihua Niu ,&nbsp;Hans-Peter Grossart ,&nbsp;Yingjie Wang ,&nbsp;Xin Ma ,&nbsp;Li Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.watres.2025.125311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watres.2025.125311","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>River-lake confluence zones, characterized by unique hydrodynamic conditions, are critical areas for pollutant transformation. Nevertheless, degradation of microplastics (MP) mediated by multi-trophic microbial communities remains poorly understood under such complex hydrodynamic disturbances. This study investigated the characteristics of multi-trophic microbiota of the microplastome and explored their roles in MP degradation across four distinct hydrodynamic zones, i.e., maximum velocity zone (Z1), flow buffer zone (Z2), flow deflection zone (Z3), and flow reestablishment zone (Z4), in a river-lake confluence. A pronounced spatial heterogeneity in MP abundance and available nutrients was revealed among the four flow zones, with Z3 exhibiting the most intense MP degradation. Additional microcosm experiments demonstrated that microbial MP degradation was primarily driven by the enriched degrading bacteria and fungi, facilitated by multi-trophic microbial interactions. Furthermore, in situ analysis revealed that both bottom-up and top-down effects occurred across all flow zones, with their intensity being positively correlated with the degree of MP degradation. Thereby, nutrient availability driven by hydrodynamics stimulated the growth of MP degrading bacteria and fungi through a bottom-up effect. The increase in the relative abundance of MP degrading bacteria, concurrent with enhanced protozoan predation on bacteria, suggested that this top-down control operated through the selective predation of protozoa on non-MP degrading bacteria. Across the entire river-lake confluence zone, directional flow fluctuations were identified as the paramount environmental factor through the causal effect model, explaining &gt;50% of the variance in bottom-up and top-down effects. Our study demonstrates how hydrodynamics governs MP degradation via multi-trophic microbial interactions, advancing our fundamental understanding of MP fate in aquatic ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":443,"journal":{"name":"Water Research","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 125311"},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Periphyton microbial communities of artificial streams impacted similarly by distinct phosphorus enrichment patterns","authors":"Anja Skrobonja ,&nbsp;Christine Lundsgaard-Nielsen ,&nbsp;Edward M. Krynak ,&nbsp;Chris T. Parsons ,&nbsp;Josh D. Neufeld ,&nbsp;Adam G. Yates","doi":"10.1016/j.watres.2025.125243","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watres.2025.125243","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phosphorus (P) enrichment of stream water influences the diversity and composition of periphyton assemblages. However, P enrichment can vary temporally with the source of P and there is limited knowledge of the relative impacts of different enrichment patterns on periphyton communities. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a 25-day mesocosm experiment using nine artificial streams exposed to three P enrichment loading patterns: unenriched, continuously enriched, or event enriched. Periphyton samples were collected from each stream at six time points during the experiment and high throughput sequencing of 16S and 18S rRNA genes was performed to characterize prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial assemblages. Microbial community compositions of stream periphyton were similar by the end of the experiment for continuously and event enriched streams, and both treatments differed from end point microbial community profiles of unenriched mesocosms. This similarity among periphyton samples from enriched stream mesocosms was primarily due to the shared dominance of green algae (<em>Desmodesmus</em>) and <em>Proteobacteria</em> (<em>Comamonadaceae</em>) for eukaryotic and prokaryotic assemblages, respectively. Richness of both microbial assemblages declined with enrichment, regardless of loading pattern. In contrast, evenness only differed among eukaryotic assemblages, with lower evenness in the enriched streams compared to the unenriched. Overall, our data demonstrate that the amount of P enrichment, rather than pattern of enrichment, regulates periphyton microbial community composition. Management of P enrichment may thus benefit from targeting the most efficient way to reduce P loads regardless of source.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":443,"journal":{"name":"Water Research","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 125243"},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145785414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}