Rivers are vital ecosystems that support high biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem services such as drinking water, irrigation and recreation.
Rivers are vital ecosystems that support high biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem services such as drinking water, irrigation and recreation. Often overlooked within these habitats are the microscopic organisms that form the foundation of aquatic food webs and drive the cycling of nutrients and organic matter.
River biofilms, the green or brown slimy material that grows on the surface of rocks, are home to diverse communities of microbes and are hotspots of microbial activity. These microbes are essential for maintaining the health and function of river ecosystems but their diversity remains hidden beneath the surface.
More than 1,600 biofilm samples were collected from rivers and streams across England and analysed by scientists at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and the Environment Agency to study the microbial DNA found within them.
Read More: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
River biofilms, which grow on the surface of rocks, are home to diverse communities of microbes. (Photo Credit: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology)
