This study aimed to evaluate the response of the microbial community from CWs microcosms tested for
the removal of two veterinary antibiotics, enrofloxacin (ENR) and tetracycline (TET), from livestock industry
wastewater. Three treatments were tested (control, ENR or TET (100 lg L1
)) over 12 weeks in microcosms
unplanted and planted with Phragmites australis. CWs removal efficiency was relatively stable
along time, with removals higher than 98% for ENR and 94% for TET. In addition, CWs were able to reduce
wastewater toxicity, independently of antibiotics presence. Despite no significant differences were
observed in terms of microbial abundance, bacterial richness or diversity, analysis of similarities (twoway
crossed ANOSIM) showed a significant effect of both time and treatments in bacterial community
structure. This study points to CWs applicability for veterinary antibiotics removal from livestock wastewaters,
showing that CWs microbial communities were able to adapt without significant changes in their
diversity or depuration capacity.
2015