Taxonomic Diversity of Fungi and Bacteria in Azoe-NP(R) Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands

Plants, fungi, bacteria and protozoa are highly interconnected in constructed wetlands. These heterogeneous groups of organisms constitute a single system with complex internal trophic interactions. Thus, the joint activity of micro- and macroorganisms in constructed wetlands provides highly efficient wastewater treatment: both nutrients and complex organic substances can be effectively removed in branched trophic chains. The bacterial community of constructed wetlands has recently received much attention, while the fungal component remains less studied, particularly saprotrophic fungi. This paper reveals a taxonomic analysis of the cultivated saprotrophic fungi combined with the bacterial community in vertical flow constructed wetlands (VSCWs) operated by the Azoe-NP(R) process. These systems have unique features to affect the microbial community, which results in a high treatment efficiency and nitrogen removal. There are very few studies of saprotrophic fungi in VFCWs, while this work shows their abundance and diversity in VFCWs. We found 62 species of cultivated microscopic fungi and described the taxonomic composition of bacterial and fungal community at all wastewater treatment stages. In the studied VFCWs, we identified the species of micromycetes, which proved effective in the removal of contaminants. The data obtained can provide a deeper insight into the characteristics of Azoe-NP(R) systems and the treatment processes occurring in constructed wetlands.

Automated summary

Plants, fungi, bacteria and protozoa in constructed wetlands form a complex system with efficient wastewater treatment. While bacterial community in constructed wetlands has been widely studied, the fungal component, especially saprotrophic fungi, remains less explored. This study analyzed the taxonomic composition of cultivated saprotrophic fungi and bacterial community in vertical flow constructed wetlands operated by the Azoe-NP® process. The findings provide insights into the characteristics of the Azoe-NP® systems and treatment processes in constructed wetlands.