This thesis investigate the effects of flow regulation by dams and water pollution of emergent compounds in the structure and functioning of epilithic biofilms in Mediterranean rivers. Flow stability by dams caused a homogenisation of biofilm response. They presented higher biomass, but low metabolic rates. It was also observed that the community diversity downstream of the dams was high because biofilms were able to grow until the late- phase of succession, however, they presented high similarity along the reach. Concerning to pollution, in situations of high flow, biofilms presented high density of bacteria and small and attached diatom species. The structure and functioning of biofilms subject to high flow were governed by the physical template in the river in spite of the type of pollution. Contrarily, when water flow was lower, biofilms became thicker and with lower metabolic rates. In these situations biofilms were more affected by chemical pollution s than by the hydrological forcing.
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