Using stream biofilms to assess ecotoxicological effects
Event details
| Date | 14.04.2015 |
| Hour | 16:15 › 17:15 |
| Speaker | Dr Ahmed Tlili, Environmental Ecotoxicology, EAWAG Duebendorf |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
Abstract:
Community ecotoxicology arose from the need to increase ecological relevance of ecotoxicological risk assessment by describing patterns in community structure in response to toxicant exposures and explaining the underlying mechanisms for these patterns. Being composed of many species displaying different sensitivities to toxicants, microbial communities reflect to some extent the biological variability and complexity in ecosystems. Biofilms, a consortium of auto- and heterotrophic organisms embedded in an extracellular polymer matrix, are involved in critical ecosystem functions and form the basis of the food web in streams. Organisms composing these biofilms are very sensitive to chemicals, which can rapidly affect their structure and functions, justifying their use as early-warning indicators of toxicant exposure. Therefore, this talk will focus on the relevance of using stream biofilms as an interface to monitor effects of toxicants on biological communities. Several case studies will be provided to illustrate the theoretical background of this topic.
Short biography:
Dr Tlili obtained PhD in ecotoxicology and microbial ecology, in 2010 in France. The PhD was done at the Cemagref Institute in Lyon, where he worked on the ecological significance of microbial tolerance to organic and inorganic pollutants in streams. Then in 2011 he moved to the Leibniz-Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland fisheries (IGB) in Stechlin-Germany, where he worked on the effects of silver nanoparticles on autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial communities in streams. Since 2014, Dr Tlili moved to Eawag in Switzerland where he continues working on nanoparticle effects but also on the impacts of waste water treatment plants on stream ecology. Overall, his research interest is in applying approaches that consider biological and chemical complexity to assess the effects of chemical contaminations in ecosystems by exploring the interface between ecotoxicology and ecology fields.
Community ecotoxicology arose from the need to increase ecological relevance of ecotoxicological risk assessment by describing patterns in community structure in response to toxicant exposures and explaining the underlying mechanisms for these patterns. Being composed of many species displaying different sensitivities to toxicants, microbial communities reflect to some extent the biological variability and complexity in ecosystems. Biofilms, a consortium of auto- and heterotrophic organisms embedded in an extracellular polymer matrix, are involved in critical ecosystem functions and form the basis of the food web in streams. Organisms composing these biofilms are very sensitive to chemicals, which can rapidly affect their structure and functions, justifying their use as early-warning indicators of toxicant exposure. Therefore, this talk will focus on the relevance of using stream biofilms as an interface to monitor effects of toxicants on biological communities. Several case studies will be provided to illustrate the theoretical background of this topic.
Short biography:
Dr Tlili obtained PhD in ecotoxicology and microbial ecology, in 2010 in France. The PhD was done at the Cemagref Institute in Lyon, where he worked on the ecological significance of microbial tolerance to organic and inorganic pollutants in streams. Then in 2011 he moved to the Leibniz-Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland fisheries (IGB) in Stechlin-Germany, where he worked on the effects of silver nanoparticles on autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial communities in streams. Since 2014, Dr Tlili moved to Eawag in Switzerland where he continues working on nanoparticle effects but also on the impacts of waste water treatment plants on stream ecology. Overall, his research interest is in applying approaches that consider biological and chemical complexity to assess the effects of chemical contaminations in ecosystems by exploring the interface between ecotoxicology and ecology fields.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
- This event is internal
Organizer
- EESS - IIE
Contact
- Prof. Kristin Schirmer, TOX-EPFL and Environmental Ecotoxicology-EAWAG