ISSN:
1573-5176
Keywords:
cadmium
;
copper
;
diatoms
;
dinoflagellates
;
extracellular polysaccharides
;
phytochelatins
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Several diatom and dinoflagellate species isolatedfrom the Adriatic Sea, grown in batch cultures in f/2medium, were exposed to two different concentrationsof Cu and Cd. The concentrations chosen caused areduction of growth, but were not lethal. Thespecies able to tolerate the highest Cu concentrations(in the order of 0.2–0.5 mg L-1) were diatoms,while some diatoms and all the dinoflagellates wereinhibited by concentrations between 0.01 and 0.05 mgCu L-1. Cadmium was less toxic in that it did notaffect diatom or dinoflagellate growth up to aconcentration of 0.2 mg L-1. Increasedproduction of extracellular polysaccharides was foundto be a general response to the presence of thepollutant. Cylindrotheca fusiformis, Achnanthesbrevipes and Prorocentrum micans wereinvestigated for their production of intracellularmetal-ligands. Molecules with Cd-binding propertiesand having a molecular weight comparable with that ofphytochelatins were found only in C.fusiformis, and their presence showed both adose- and time-dependent response. The presence orabsence of intracellular ligands in these algae isconsistent with their ability to exclude the metalextracellularly.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1008162812651
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