ASSEMBLY AND DYNAMICS OF MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES IN GRANULAR, FIXED-BIOFILM AND PLANKTONIC METHANOGENIC MICROBIOMES VALORIZING LONG CHAIN FATTY ACID (LCFA)-RICH WASTEWATER

Distinct microbial assemblages are engineered in anaerobic digestion (AD) reactors to drive sequential conversions of organics to methane. The spatio-temporal development of three such assemblages (granules, biofilms, planktonic) derived from the same inoculum was studied in replicated bioreactors treating long-chain fatty acids (LCFA)-rich wastewater at 20{degrees}C at hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 12-72 h. We found granular, biofilm and planktonic assemblages differentiated by diversity, structure, and assembly mechanisms; demonstrating a spatial compartmentalisation of the microbiomes from the initial community reservoir. Our analysis linked abundant Methanosaeta and Syntrophaceae-affiliated taxa (Syntrophus and uncultured) to their putative, active roles in syntrophic LCFA bioconversion. LCFA loading rates (stearate, palmitate), and HRT, were significant drivers shaping microbial community dynamics and assembly. This study of the archaea and syntrophic bacteria actively valorising LCFAs at short HRTs and 20{degrees}C will help uncover the microbiology underpinning anaerobic bioconversions of fats, oil and grease. HighlightsO_LIGranular, biofilm and planktonic assemblages developed from the same seed reservoir C_LIO_LIThree assemblages forming metacommunity differed in diversity and composition C_LIO_LIMultiple null models applied to quantify deterministic and stochastic mechanisms C_LIO_LIDominant, active role of acetoclastic Methanosaeta confirmed in granules and biofilm C_LIO_LIDynamic, non-core-microbiome taxa correlated with environmental variables C_LI