Effects of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn on brown tide alga aureococcus anophagefferens growth and metal accumulation

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-3-2012

Abstract

Trace metals play important roles in regulating phytoplankton growth and could influence algal bloom development. Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the influence of environmentally relevant concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn on Aureococcus anophagefferens bloom (brown tide) development. Results show that the elevated Ni 2+ concentrations, e.g. those of brown tide waters in the northeastern US, greatly stimulated A. anophagefferens growth (as compared to the control without Ni addition), yet, only low amounts of dissolved Ni were sequestered, thus leaving excessive Ni directly promoting A. anophagefferens blooms. The medium effective concentration EC 50 (Me 2+) suggests A. anophagefferens has similar Cd sensitivity but much greater Cu tolerance as compared to cyanobacteria, as such, excessive Cu could indirectly promote A. anophagefferens blooms by inhibiting competitors such as Synechococcus sp. The effects of Ni and Cu promoting growth are consistent with the recent genomic study of this alga. In addition, Zn 2+ concentrations lower than those in brown tide waters enhance A. anophagefferens growth, but Zn sequestration in A. anophagefferens would not substantially reduce total dissolved Zn in these waters. Overall, this study, showing that excessive Cu and Ni likely promote brown tides, provides evidence for trace metal linkages in algal bloom development. © 2011 American Chemical Society.

Identifier

84855336469 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Environmental Science and Technology

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1021/es202790p

e-ISSN

15205851

ISSN

0013936X

PubMed ID

22103320

First Page

517

Last Page

524

Issue

1

Volume

46

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS