Could benthic biofilm analyses be used as a reliable proxy for freshwater environmental health

摘要: The quality of freshwater undoubtedly reflects the health our surrounding environment, society, and economy, as these are supported by various ecosystems. Monitoring efforts have therefore been considered a vital means ensuring ecological environments. Nevertheless, most aquatic environmental monitoring strategies largely focus on bulk water sampling for analysis physicochemical key biological indicators, which part do not consider pollution events that occur at any time between events. Because benthic biofilms ubiquitous in environments, released during sporadic may be absorbed biofilms, can act repositories pollutants. aim this study was to assess whether biofilm could provide an efficient way properly characterizing extent Here, were sampled from three Hong Kong streams having profiles, subsequently compared via high-resolution microscopy, metagenomic analysis, analytical chemistry. results indicated were, indeed, reservoirs pollutants, different profiles with corresponding samples. Moreover, also suggested polluted areas characterized higher species richness. While testing still needs further development, integration chemical-pollutant sequencing data future studies unique perspectives understanding identifying pollution-related biomarkers.