Molecular Microbiology Research 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 131-140 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mmr 136 Figure 2 Schematic illustration of the potential sources of water contaminants and their bioremediation by laccases (Adopted from Arregui et al., 2019) Image caption: Emerging contaminants such as antibiotics, endocrine disruptors, dye-based pollutants and pharmaceutical drugs are often released into the environment causing harmful impacts and health problems to humans and other animals, water treatment with laccases and their biotechnological approaches generate less-toxic, inert or fully degraded compounds (Adopted from Arregui et al., 2019) 7 Environmental and Ecological Considerations 7.1 Ecological balance and microbial communities Microbial communities play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of aquatic systems. These microorganisms are involved in nutrient cycling, decomposition of organic matter, and the overall productivity of the ecosystem. For instance, microbes are essential in the decomposition of detritus, contributing to nutrient recycling and supporting the food web from primary producers to higher trophic levels (Mamidala et al., 2021). Additionally, microbial biofilms on various surfaces within aquatic systems facilitate nutrient exchange and provide a habitat for diverse microbial taxa. The dynamic interactions within microbial communities, including competition and cooperation, are fundamental to the stability and functionality of aquatic ecosystems (Hurst, 2019). 7.2 Impact of climate change on microbial processes Climate change poses significant threats to microbial processes in aquatic environments. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events can disrupt microbial community structures and functions. For example, climate change can exacerbate eutrophication, leading to harmful algal blooms that alter microbial diversity and function (Sehnal et al., 2021). Furthermore, changes in water temperature and chemistry can affect the metabolic rates of microbes, influencing processes such as nitrogen cycling and organic matter decomposition (Sehnal et al., 2021; Kumar et al., 2022). The resilience of microbial communities to these changes is critical for the continued health and stability of aquatic ecosystems (Mamidala et al., 2021).
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