Chlorella-Daphnia consortium as a promising tool for bioremediation of Nile tilapia farming wastewater

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to investigate the effluent treatment from Nile tilapia farming in a biofloc system with a consortium of microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) and zooplankton (Daphnia similis). Thus, integrated cultures of C. vulgaris and D. similis were performed in two forms of wastewater treatment: sedimentation (S) and non-sedimentation (NS), in four different salinities (1, 2, 3 and 4 g L⁻¹). Water quality, growth of D. similis, behaviour of C. vulgaris, efficiency of removal of nitrogen compounds, orthophosphate, and total suspended solids (TSS) were measured. D. similis had higher density in 3NS (p < 0.05), while population die-off occurred in 4S and 4NS. The 2S and 1NS combinations stood out in bioremediation, achieving removal of up to 70.37% nitrate, 75.74% orthophosphate, and 90.74% TSS. 2S and 3S cultures became self-sufficient from day 21. Thus, the Chlorella-Daphnia consortium using 3NS allowed better production of D. similis, whereas salinities 2 g L⁻¹ (S) and 1 g L⁻¹ (NS) provided better bioremediation, and the use of S wastewater improved the sustainability of the system. These results contribute to a better evaluation of cultures in consortia of organisms for the treatment of aquaculture wastewater and the production of live feed for aquaculture.

Highlights

• Four salinities and two forms of biofloc wastewater processing were evaluated.

• Salinity 2 and sedimentation of biofloc wastewater showed better bioremediation.

• Salinity 3 and non-sedimentation of biofloc wastewater had better D. similis growth.

• C. vulgaris could grow in biofloc wastewater even with Daphnia predation.

• Chlorella-Daphnia consortium is an option for bioremediation and live food production.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Aquaculture
• Nitrogen
• Orthophosphate
• BFT
• Sustainability

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to all the laboratory members for the preparation of the experimental material and technical assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Compliance with ethical standards

Ethical approval

The experiment was in accordance with Brazilian Law no. 11.794/2008.

Data availability statement

Research data are not shared.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by CAPES: [Grant Number 88882.436231/2019-01,88882.436234/2019-01,88887.497047/2020-00]; CNPQ: [Grant Number PQ 308063/2019-8, PQ PQ309669/2021-9]; Fundação de Amparo a Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE): [Grant Number BFP-0186-5.06/20].

Notes on contributors

Clarissa Vilela Figueiredo da Silva Campos

Clarissa Vilela Figueiredo da Silva Campos is a Doctorate candidate in the Fishing Resources and Aquaculture Postgraduate Program at Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Brazil. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fishing Engineering in 2014 and a Master’s degree in Fishing Resources and Aquaculture in 2017, both at UFRPE.

Carlos Yure B. Oliveira

Carlos Yure B. Oliveira is a Doctorate candidate in the Fishing Resources and Aquaculture Postgraduate Program at Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Brazil. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Fishing Engineering in 2018 (also at UFRPE), and a Master’s degree in Aquaculture in 2020 at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Elizabeth Pereira dos Santos

Elizabeth Pereira dos Santos is a Doctorate student of the Fishing Resources and Aquaculture Postgraduate Program at Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Brazil. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fishing Engineering in 2014 and has experience in Fishery Resources and Fisheries Engineering, focusing on sea culture.

Jéssika Lima de Abreu

Jéssika Lima de Abreu is a professor of Fishing Engineering in the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil. She earned a Bachelor's in Fishing Engineering (2014), a Master's in Aquaculture (2016), and a Doctorate degree in Fishery Resources and Aquiculture (2020), all at Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE).

William Severi

William Severi is a professor of Fishing Engineering in the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fishing Engineering at the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (1980), and a Master’s degree (1991) plus a Doctorate (1997) in Ecology and Natural Resources at the Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Brazil.

Suzianny Maria Bezerra Cabral da Silva

Suzianny Maria Bezerra Cabral da Silva is a professor of Fishing Engineering in the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil. She earned a Bachelor's in Fishing Engineering (2007), a Master's in Aquaculture (2010), and a Doctorate degree in Fishery Resources and Aquiculture (2014), all at Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE).

Luis Otavio Brito

Luis Otavio Brito is a professor of Fishing Engineering in the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fishing Engineering and then a Doctorate in Fishing Resources and Aquaculture in 2013, both at the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco.

Alfredo Olivera Gálvez

Alfredo Olivera Gálvez is a professor of Fishing Engineering in the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Universidad Ricardo Palma (Peru) and then a doctorate in Biology of Aquatic Organisms and Aquaculture in 1998, at the Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (Brazil).