DIFFERENT MICROORGANISMS AS A POLLUTION INDICATION

1. HAFIZ M WASEEM
UE LAHORE
MSC ZOOLOGY
ROLE OF
MICROORGANISMS IN
POLLUTION
INDICATION

2. WHAT IS POLLUTION ?
 Pollution is the introduction of contaminants (solid,liquid, gas and
even light) into natural environment that cause adverse change in
environment
 These effects are like degradation of natural resources and nature
Effects of pollution are slow and gradual but last long

3. WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION? Pollution is the
introduction of
contaminants into natural
environment that cause
adverse change in
environment. Few types
of pollution are following:
1. Water Pollution
2. Air Pollution
3. Soil Pollution
4. Noise Pollution
5. Thermal Pollution

4. WHAT ARE BIOINDICATORS?
 Bioindicators are species that can be used to monitor the
health of an environment or ecosystem.
 Such organisms can be monitored for changes
(morphological, physiological, or behavioral) that may
indicate a problem within their ecosystem.
 A good bioindicator will indicate the presence of the
pollutant and also attempt to provide additional information
about the amount and intensity of the exposure.
 E.g. Caddisfly (order Trichoptera) used as an indicator of
water quality.
 Indicator species may Provide information on the overall
health of an ecosystem When the species is present, it
indicates the presence of certain environmenta parameters

5. WHY BIOINDICATORS ARE USED
• Bioindicators are used to detect changes in
the natural environment, monitor for the
presence of pollution and its effect on the
ecosystem in which the organism lives,
monitor the progress of environmental
cleanup and test substances, like drinking
water,for the presence of contaminants.

6. HISTORY
Indicator organisms term was coined by mid to late
1800s due to various water born diseases cause by
consumption of poor quality of water.
Use of intestinal streptococcal organisms as
pollution indicators was first recognized late last
century by Lawes and Andrewes (1894) and
Houston (1900). Winslow and Hunnewell (1902)
have also observed that these organisms were
consistently present in the feces of all warm-blooded
animals and in water contaminated with fecal
material.

7. CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD BIO-INDICATOR
 Abundance, wide distribution
 Simple procedure of identification and sampling
 High tolerance for the pollutants analyzed
 Quick response towards the change in their environment
 Taxonomically well documented and stable
 Easy and cheap to survey
 For example,microbial indicators can be used for testing
water: Bioluminiscent bacteria are being used to test water
for environmental toxins.
 If there are toxins present in the water, he cellular
metabolism of the bacteria is inhibited or disrupted.

8. WHY ARE BIOINDICATORS BETTER THAN
TRADITIONAL METHODS?
Scientists have traditionally conducted chemical assays
and directly measured physical parameters of the
environment (e.g., ambient temperature, salinity,
nutrients, pollutants, available light and gas levels),
whereas the use of bioindicators uses the biota to
assess the cumulative impacts of both chemical
pollutants and habitat alterations over time.
 Bioindicators have the ability to indicate indirect biotic
effects of pollutants when many physical or chemical
measurements cannot.
 Through bioindicators scientists need to observe only
the single indicating species to check on the
environment , they don’t have to monitor whole
community.

9. HOW ARE THEY USED ?
 Different bioindicators are sensitive to different
types of changes.
Scientists observe changes in the populations of a
microbes bioindicators to see if an environment is
healthy .
Biological response of bioindicator reveals the
presence of the pollutants by the occurrence of
typical symptoms or measurable responses, and is
therefore more qualitative .

10. MICROBIAL SYSTEM
Microorganisms are
diverse group of
organisms found in
large quantities and
are easier to detect
and sample.
 The presence of
some
microorganisms is
well correlated with
particular type of
pollution and it
serves as standard
indicator of
pollution.

11. ALGAE AS BIOINDICATORS
 Although indicator organisms can be any biological species
that defines a trait or
 characteristics of the environment, algae are known to be
good indicators of pollution
1. Algae have wide temporal and spatial distribution. of many
types for the following reasons:
2. Many algal species are avaliable all the year.
3. Response quickly to the charges in the environment due to
pollution.
4. Algae are diverse group of organisms found in large
quantities.
5. Easier to detect and sample.
6. The presence of some algae are well correlated with
particular type of pollution particularly to organic pollution.

12. ALGAE AND FUNGI
 Algae and fungi indicate sludge age, as well as issues with
pollution or pH. Algae are indicative of excess nutrients and
may be present during warmer, sunnier temperatures, and
following an upset. While algae can be used to lower BOD, in
high numbers it can cause elevated TSS at the effluent.
 Fungi may develop with high BOD levels. Untreated fungi can
cause issues with settling and dewatering

13. ALGAE
Lichens can also indicate past pollution by
faded or abnormal colouring and patchiness in
the centre of the thallus.

14. LICHENS AND BLACKSPOT FUNGUS
 Pollutants in the air such as sulfur dioxide are released from power
stations.
 Air pollution can be monitored by indicator species. Some species
of lichens and blackspot fungus are very sensitive to sulfur dioxide,
if there are very high levels in the air then they will not be able to
grow.
 By looking at the number and type of lichens present in various
locations, scientists can determine how clean or how polluted the
air is.

15. BLOOD WORMS AND SLUDGE WORMS
 If water is polluted by raw sewage
orfertilisers, eutrophication can happen, which decreases the
oxygen concentration in the river or lake.
 However, some animals are adapted for surviving in polluted
conditions and can survive in low oxygen concentrations.
Examples are blood worms and sludge worms. The presence
of these species indicates there is a high level of water
pollution.

16. ACTINOMYCETES
 Actinomycetes are a complex group of bacteria present in a wide variety of
environments, either as dormant spores or actively growing.
 However, isolation from a water source is not evidence that actinomycetes
caused a taste and odour event.
 Similarly, odourous compounds produced by actinomycetes may be
produced terrestrially and washed into aquatic environments, with or
without the actinomycetes that produced them. Actinomycetes may exist as
actively growing mycelium in small, specialized habitats within an aquatic
system, but their odourous compounds may influence a wider area.

17. PROTOZOA
• Approximately 4% of the microorganisms in wastewater are
protozoa, which are single-celled aerobic microorganisms.
• Protozoa improve effluent clarity by digesting suspended particles
and bacteria.
• Protozoa are sensitive to temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and
nutrient availability. The presence of certain protozoa are
indicators of treatment system performance. Nutrient deficiencies
or low dissolved oxygen content will limit the number and type of
protozoa.

18. CILIATED PROTOZOA
• Commensal ciliated protozoa of fresh-water bivalve molluscs
were tested for their ability to detect conditions of organic
pollution within a small midwestern stream.
• Data are presented which demonstrate that one of these
ciliates, Heterocinetopsis unioni darum, responds rapidly to
unfavorable conditions. The further development of sensitive
biological indicators and their potential to warn of impending
and possibly irreversible environmental change are discussed.

19. FLAGELLATES
• Like amoebae, flagellates are present during start-up. They feed on soluble
organic matter and dispersed bacteria.
• However, flagellates decline when bacteria begin reproducing, out-
competing them for nutrients.
• Flagellates also appear in lagoons that have low dissolved oxygen content
and high soluble BOD. Because they feed on dead microorganisms, a bloom
of flagellates is a good indicator of toxicity, high loading, pond turnover, or
an increase in BOD

20. CILIATES Ciliates remove suspended and free-dispersed bacteria. Free-swimming
ciliates begin to appear as flagellates begin to disappear.
 Crawling ciliates dominate in a well-balanced activated sludge process. They
graze on floc particles and feed on bacteria at the edges of floc.
 As sludge matures, colonial stalked ciliates dominate single-stalked ciliates.
If the sludge matures too long, nutrients and bacteria become unavailable
and protozoa-eating protozoa, such as the suctoria, dominate.

21. AMOEBAE,
 amoebae, which are present early in the process, die off as
food decreases.
 Because they feed on solid particles in the water, large
numbers of amoebae present in the aeration basin discharge
are an indicator of a shock load of BOD, large amounts of
particulates, and/or low oxygen.

22. METAZOA ROTIFER
 Only 1% of the microorganisms in wastewater treatment are
metazoa, which are multi-cellular aerobic microorganisms.
 Generally found in lagoons, metazoa feed on bacteria, algae,
and protozoa.
 Metazoa are affected by toxins. Like protozoa, the presence
and activity of specific metazoa indicates the treatment
system environment.

23. ROTIFERS, TARDIGRADES
 Rotifers, which aid effluent clarification, produce a sticky secretion
that helps keep floc clumped together. They are usually the first
affected by toxins.
 Tardigrades (water bear), which feed on algae and small protozoa,
are also sensitive to toxins but can survive environmental
extremes. The presence of tardigrades indicates long sludge age,
good BOD degradation, and low ammonia levels.

24. NEMATODES,
 Nematodes, which feed on bacteria, protozoa, fungus, and other
nematodes.
 They tunnel through floc, slime, and biofilm, increasing oxygen penetration,
preventing excess build up, and keeping it porous.
 Their presence, growth, and movement are bioindicators of long sludge
age, changes in wastewater conditions. They are sensitive to anoxic
conditions, and their population decreases in warm temperatures.
 Like water bears, aquatic flatworms can survive humidity and temperature
extremes, but they are sensitive to low dissolved oxygen levels as well as
toxins. The presence of tubiflex, or sludge worms, is an indication of
pollution.

25. CLADOCERA
 Cladocera, or water fleas (Daphnia), which are related to shrimp, are
present in clean lagoon effluent. They consume algae and bacteria.
 They can control issues with TSS caused by excessive algae, but not without
affecting the dissolved oxygen content.
 In oxygen-deficient environments, they turn pink or red as they produce
hemoglobin. Schools of water fleas may leave red streaks in a lagoon, which
indicates low dissolved oxygen.
 Water fleas are highly sensitive to toxicity and ammonia.

26. COPEPODS
 Copepods are crustaceans found in clean lagoon effluent that
is free of toxins. Copepods are opportunistic feeders that eat
small organic particles that drift toward them. They thrive in a
stable wastewater environment with high dissolved oxygen
and low bacteria

27. BACTERIA
Daphnia
 Bacteria account for 95% of the microorganisms in
wastewater. They are single-celled microorganisms, classified
based on their response to oxygen.
 As anaerobic bacteria break down sludge, they produce
methane gas.

28. COPEPOD
 Bacteria are dispersed, reproducing, growing, and actively seeking out food when
nutrient levels are high. As nutrient levels drop, bacteria slow down and develop a
slime layer on their cell walls. This slime layer causes bacteria to clump or floc,
forming masses that settle and separate from wastewater liquids.9
 copepod
 When nutrient levels remain high, the bacteria remain dispersed and do not form
floc. Nutrient levels that are too low interfere with the development of the cell
wall, which results in floc dispersion, sludge bulking, slime bulking, and foaming

29. FILAMENTUS BACTERIA
 They grow in long hair-like strands, connecting together to form a
web that is important in floc formation. Filamentous bacteria are
an indicator of changes in pH, temperature, available nutrients,
FOGs, sludge load, and dissolved oxygen.
 Excessive growth of filamentous bacteria can interfere with
settling, causing bulking and foaming. Filamentous bulking may
occur upon recovery from a toxic load as filamentous bacteria
recover faster than floc-forming bacteria

30. CONCLUSION
The presence, absence, excessive occurrence, and
activities of microorganisms signify wastewater
condition throughout the stages of treatment. A careful
observation of bioindicators is a cost-effective and
efficient way to control wastewater operations and the
quality of wastewater so that bioremediations can be
made as necessary.
 Concerns for new technologies released into the
environment do exist.
New techniques under consideration make use of
genetically engineered microorganisms designed to
deal with specific tasks.
 There is a tremendous potential for biotechnology to
contribute in the remediation and protection of the
environment.

31. REFRENCES
J Németh-Katona (2008). The Environmental
Significance of Bioindicators in Sewage
Treatment,
https://www.uni-obuda.hu/journal/Nemethne-
Katona_15.pdf
P Madoni (2009). Protozoa in wastewater
treatment processes: A minireview, Italian
Journal of Zoology
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1
1250000903373797