The Toxicity of Copper(ii) Species to Marine Algae, With Particular Reference to Macroalgae

Toxicity tests using developmental stages of Hormosira banksii (Phaeophyta) identify ammonium as a damaging component of secondary treated sewage effluent discharged into Bass Strait, Victoria, Australia

“…This concentration greatly exceeded the copper concentration range in effluent, prior to discharge. Tolerance of heavy metals such as copper may well be due to the ongoing synthesis and secretion of the cell wall components, alginate, sulfated polysaccharides and phenolic compounds, associated with brown algal embryo development (Quatrano & Stevens 1976, Clayton & Ashburner 1994, which have an affinity for cations (Skipnes et al 1975, Paskins-Hurlburt et al 1978, Ragan et al 1979, Pellegrini 1980, Lignell et al 1982, Mariani et al 1985, Smith et al 1986, Karez & Pereira 1995, Amado Filho et al 1996, Gledhill et al 1997. Susceptibility to the toxic effects of heavy metals, however, may be enhanced in developing H. banksii embryos, which are stressed due to exposure to other effluent components such as elevated levels of ammonium and to the impact of effluent discharge such as reduced salinity (Andersson & Kautsky 1996).…”

“…data). Furthermore, effluent composition is both variable (Stauber et al 1998) and complicated with individual components acting synergistically to either enhance or reduce the toxic effect of a single effluent component through interactions between other effluent components and seawater con-stituents (Hopkin & Kain 1978, Strömgren 1980, Garman et al 1994a,b, Munda & Veber 1996, Gledhill et al 1997, Haglund 1997. Finally, this study is based on one part of a life cycle of one species, albeit an ecologically relevant species as it has disappeared from Boags Rock in response to effluent discharge (Manning 1979).…”

“…Large brown macroalgae, which are very visible and often dominant intertidal seaweeds, are generally susceptible to the damaging effects of sewage effluent and disappear from effluent-affected sites (Golubic 1970, Borowitzka 1972, Littler & Murray 1975, Manning 1975, Munda 1982, Thom 1983, May 1985, Tewari & Joshi 1988, Brown et al 1990, Bellgrove et al 1997). Laboratory and fieldbased studies have also shown that the early life stages of large brown algae are similarly susceptible to sewage effluent (Tewari & Rau 1982, Ogawa 1984, Doblin & Clayton 1995, Tegner et al 1995, Kevekordes & Clayton 2000 leading to their increasing use, in recent times, as ecologically relevant bioassay systems in either toxicity studies (Anderson & Hunt 1988, Anderson et al 1990, Burridge & Shir 1995, 1996, Gunthorpe et al 1995, Bidwell et al 1998 or in studies assessing the effects of pollutants (Burrows & Pybus 1971, Hopkin & Kain 1978, Chung & Brinkhuis 1986, Andersson et al 1992, Garman et al 1994a,b, Andersson & Kautsky 1996, Gledhill et al 1997, Kevekordes & Clayton 2000. The continued use of macroalgae in toxicity studies will add to and complement toxicity studies, which are commonly based on marine animal bioassays (e.g.…”

Effects of heavy metals and light levels on the biosynthesis of carotenoids and fatty acids in the macroalgae Gracilaria tenuistipitata (var. liui Zhang & Xia)

“…It has been reported that the genus Gracilaria contains mainly C 20:4 (n-6) and C 20:5 (n-3) and other saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (Gressler et al, 2010). Heavy metals can be accumulated by some species of macroalgae and interfere with photosynthesis (Baumann et al, 2009;Gledhill et al, 1997). It was also reported that copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) induce oxidative stress in G. tenuistipitata (Collen et al, 2003).…”

Are metals of antifouling paints transferred to marine biota?

“…An increase in Cu contents in oyster populations at Arcachon Bay, were determined by Claisse & Alzieu (1993), since the TBT use was phased-out in France. Although Cu is important as a micronutrient for algal growth, it is highly toxic at elevated concentrations in the ionic forms (Gledhill et al, 1997).…”