Bioaccumulation of Pb^2＋ and Its Effects on Growth, Morphology and Pigment Contents of Spirulina （Arthrospira）platensis

A laboratory experiment was conducted to assess the bioaccumulation of Pb2 and its effects on growth,morphology andpigment contents of Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis.The specimen cultured in Zarrouk liquid medium was treated with variousinitial metal concentrations (0,5,10,30,50 and 100 μgmL-1).The growth of S.platensis was adversely affected by Pb2 at high con-centrations (30,50 and 100 μg mL-1).However,at low concentrations (5 μg mL-1),Pb2 could stimulate its growth slightly.The pig-ment contents (chlorophyll α and β carotene) were decreased in a dose-dependent manner.The highest reductions (67% and 53%respectively in chlorophyll α and β carotene) were observed in 100 μg mL-1 treatment group.The LC50 (96 h) of Pb2 was measured as75.34μg mL-1.Apart from a few cases of filament breakages at elevated concentrations (50 and 100μg mL-1),morphological abnor-malities are not specific.Metal bioaccumulation increased with Pb2 concentrations,but decreased with exposure time.The maxi-mum accumulated amount was 188 mgg-1 dry weight.The bioconcentration factor (BCF) reached to a peak at day 2,followed by agradual reduction for all the exposure concentrations.S.platensis is able to tolerate considerably high Pb2 concentrations.Conse-quently it can be used as a potential species to remove heavy metal from contaminated waters.     

Influence of light availability on the specific density,size and sinking loss of Anabaena flos-aquae and Scenedesmus obliquus

Harmful algal blooms in eutrophic waters pose a serious threat to freshwater ecosystems and human health. In-situ light availability control is one of the most commonly used technologies to suppress algae in lakes and reservoirs. To develop a better understanding of the effects of light on algal growth, specific density, colony size and sinking loss, Anabaena flos-aquae(cyanobacteria) and Scenedesmus obliquus(green algae) were evaluated in varying light scenarios. The results showed that the specific density and colony size of these two species varied during growth, and there were obvious differences among the light scenarios. At the end of exponential phase, S. obliquus incubated under light-limited condition maintained a higher specific density and formed larger aggregates, whereas A. flos-aquae formed a longer filament length. Both species exhibited higher sinking loss rates with lower light availability. These results implied that the sinking loss rate was not always constant but should be considered as a variable response to the change of light availability, and in-situ light availability control might result in a significant increase of the sinking loss of algae due to the change of size and specific density, thereby further affecting the algal biomass in the water column.     

Expression,purification, and subcellular localization of phospholipase C in Dunaliella salina

Plants possess effective mechanisms to respond quickly to the external environment.Rapid activation of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C(PLC)enzymes occurs after a stimulus.The PLC in Dunaliella salina play s important roles in growth and stress responses.However,the molecular basis of PLC action in D.salina remains little understood.To gain insight into the potential biological functions of this enzyme,we cloned a phospholipase C gene from D.salina in a previous study,named DsPLC(GenBank No.KF573428).Here,we present the prokaryotic expression,purification,and characterization of the DsPLC gene.The entire coding region of DsPLC was inserted into an expression vector pET32 a,and the DsPLC gene was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli.The DsPLC protein was purified and identified using a polyclonal antibody and western blotting.Expressing DsPLC fused with a green fluorescent protein(GFP)in onion showed that DsPLC-GFP was localized to the intracellular membrane.Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that the relative expression of the DsPLC gene was induced significantly by 3.0-mol/L NaCl at 4 h.Our results support the importance of PLC enzymes in plant defense signaling.This study provides a basis for further functional studies of the DsPLC gene and for additional analysis of the potential roles of PLC enzymes in response to abiotic stress.     

Production of DMS and DMSP in different physiological stages and salinity conditions in two marine algae

Dimethylsulfide(DMS) and dimethylsulfoniopropionate(DMSP) production by Scrippsiella trochoidea and Prorocentrum minimum was investigated to characterize the effects of physiological stage and salinity on DMS and DMSP pools of these two marine phytoplankton species.Axenic laboratory cultures of the two marine algae were tested for DMSP production and its conversion into DMS.The results demonstrated that both algal species could produce DMS,but the average concentration of DMS per cell in S.trochoidea(12.63 fmol/L) was about six times that in P.minimum(2.01 fmol/L).DMS and DMSP concentrations in algal cultures varied significantly at different growth stages,with high release during the late stationary growth phase and the senescent phase.DMS production induced by three salinities(22,28,34) showed that the DMS concentrations per cell in the two algal cultures increased with increasing salinity,which might result from intra-cellular DMSP up-regulation with the change of osmotic stress.Our study specifies the distinctive contributions of different physiological stages of marine phytoplankton on DMSP and DMS production,and clarifies the influence of salinity conditions on the release of DMS and DMSP.As S.trochoidea and P.minimum are harmful algal bloom species with high DMS production,they might play an additional significant role in the sulfur cycle when a red tide occurs.     

DYNAMIC STUDIES ON FLAGELLAR REGENERATION IN DUNALIELLA SALINA

INTRODUCTIONMicroalgalbiotechnologyhasattractedmoreandmoretheinterestofscientistsandpeopleex ploitingitscommercialpossibilitiesasitisthebiotechnologythatcanmatchbacterialbiotechnologyinthecomingcenturyintheaspectofeconomicreturnoninvestment.Dunaliellasalinaisoneofthemostdetailedlystudiedunicellulargreenalgae,hassomeuniquescientificvalues,andgreatestpotentialformasscultureasafoodsource ,andisrichestalgalsourceofglycerolandβ carotene(Borowitaka,1 988;Ginzburg,1 987) .Optimizingperformanceo…     

Acute toxicity of live and decomposing green alga Ulva (Enteromorpha) prolifera to abalone Haliotis discus hannai

From 2007 to 2009, large-scale blooms of green algae (the so-called “green tides”) occurred every summer in the Yellow Sea, China. In June 2008, huge amounts of floating green algae accumulated along the coast of Qingdao and led to mass mortality of cultured abalone and sea cucumber. However, the mechanism for the mass mortality of cultured animals remains undetermined. This study examined the toxic effects of Ulva (Enteromorpha) prolifera, the causative species of green tides in the Yellow Sea during the last three years. The acute toxicity of fresh culture medium and decomposing algal effluent of U. prolifera to the cultured abalone Haliotis discus hannai were tested. It was found that both fresh culture medium and decomposing algal effluent had toxic effects to abalone, and decomposing algal effluent was more toxic than fresh culture medium. The acute toxicity of decomposing algal effluent could be attributed to the ammonia and sulfide presented in the effluent, as well as the hypoxia caused by the decomposition process.     

Numerical simulation of an algal bloom in Dianshan Lake

A hydrodynamic model and an aquatic ecology model of Dianshan Lake,Shanghai,were built using a hydrodynamic simulation module and the water quality simulation module of Delft3D,which is an integrated modelling suite offered by Deltares. The simulated water elevation,current velocity,and direction were validated with observed data to ensure the reliability of hydrodynamic model. The seasonal growth of different algae was analyzed with consideration of observed and historical data,as well as simulated results. In 2008,the dominant algae in Dianshan Lake was Bacillariophyta from February to March,while it was Chlorophyta from April to May,and Cyanophyta from July to August. In summer,the biomass of Cyanophyta grew quickly,reaching levels much higher than the peaks of Bacillariophyta and Chlorophyta. Algae blooms primarily occurred in the stagnation regions. This phenomenon indicates that water residence time can influence algal growth significantly. A longer water residence time was associated with higher algal growth. Two conclusions were drawn from several simulations: reducing the nutrients inflow had little effect on algal blooms in Dianshan Lake; however,increasing the discharge into Dianshan Lake could change the flow field characteristic and narrow the range of stagnation regions,resulting in inhibition of algal aggregation and propagation and a subsequent reduction in areas of high concentration algae.     

Allelopathic effects of mixotrophic dinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea on co-occurring phytoplankton: the significance of nutritional ecology

Blooms of Akashiwo sanguinea frequently break out around the world, causing huge economic losses to the aquaculture industry and seriously damaging coastal ecosystems. However, the formation mechanisms of A. sanguinea blooms remain unclear. We investigated the allelopathic effects of A. sanguinea on multiple phytoplankton species, explored the mode of allelochemicals action and the way of nutrient factors regulation of the allelopathic activity. Results show that strains of A. sanguinea could inhibit the growth of co-occurring phytoplankton including Scrippsiella trochoidea, Phaeocystis globosa, and Rhodomonas salina, but inhibition of Prorocentrum micans was not obvious. The inhibition rates on phytoplankton were positively correlated with the cell densities of A. sanguinea. The highest inhibition rate of 94% on R. salina was for A. sanguinea CCMA256 culture of 2 000 cells/mL at 72 h. We observed that cells of S. trochoidea, Ph. g lobosa, and R. sali na were lysed when co-cultured with A. sanguinea, with the shortest time for S. trochoidea. Additionally, the growth rates of A. sanguinea were promoted by coculturing with S. trochoidea, Ph. globosa, and R. salina. Four components of A. sanguinea culture were all able to inhibit growth of R. salina:the strongest inhibitory effect was found in the sonicated culture, followed by whole-cell culture, filtrates of sonicated culture, and filtrate culture. The crude extract of A. sanguinea culture also lysed cells of R. salina, and the inhibition rates on R. salina increased with the increasing dose of crude extract. It was shown that both nutrient enrichment and nitrogen:phosphorus ratio imbalance enhanced remarkably the allelopathic activity of A. sanguinea. The highest inhibition rate on R. salina of 70% occurred in A. sanguinea JX13 treatment at 2 000 cells/mL under high nutrient condition in 48 h. In JX14 treatment at 2 000 cells/mL for N:P of 10:1, the inhibition rate increased by 1.7 times of that for N:P of 20:1. In addition, the allelopathy of A. sanguinea could not only be a competitive strategy but also a nutrition strategy, playing an important role in formation and/or maintenance of blooms of the mixotrophic dinoflagellate A. sanguinea.     

Seasonal change of ice algal and phytoplankton assemblages in the Nella Fjord near Zhongshan Station, East Antarctica

The ice algal and phytoplankton assemblages were studied from Nella Fjord near Zhongshan Station, East Antarctica from April 12 to December 30, 1992. Algal blooms occurred about 3 cm thick on the bottom of sea ice in late April and mid November to early December respectively, and a phytoplankton bloom appeared in the underlying surface water in mid December following the spring ice algal bloom. The biomass in ice bottom was 1 to 3 orders of magnitude higher than that of surface water. Amphiprora kjellmanii, Berkeleya sp., Navicula glaciei, Nitzschia barkelyi, N. cylindrus /N. curta, N. lecointei and Nitzschia sp. were common in the sea ice temporarily or throughout the study period. The biomass in a certain ice segment was decreased gradually and the dominant species were usually succeeded as the season went on. Nitzschia sublineata and Dactyliosolen antarctica were two seasonal dominant species only observed in underlying water column. The assemblages between bottom of ice and underlying surface water were different except when spring ice algae bloomed. The evidence shows that the ice algal blooms occurred mainly by in situ growth of ice algae, and the phytoplankton bloom was mostly caused by the release of ice algae.     

STUDY ON THE PHYTOPLANKTON.IN A LARGE RESERVOIR

A comprehensive study on the community structure and function of the phytoplankton in Taipinghu Reservoir, the largest reservoir (9400 ha) in Anhui Province, China, was carried out dur ing 1985- 1986. A total of 175 species of algae belonging to 8 phyla and 87 genera was noted. The composition of phytoplankton was dominated by species of Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta and Bacillariophyta. The species number, cell density and biomass of the three groups were respectively 88%, 86.5% and 78.9% of the total phytopiankton. The weighted annual average biomass was 1.52 mg/L and cell density was 1.43 x 106 ind/L. The growth maximum was observed in summer. Diatoms were abundant in the region adjoining a river. A large number of flagellated algae such as Euglena and Chromulina occurred in the artificial fish culture bay.It can be inferred from the algal composition and total nitrogen concentration (1.48mg/L) that this reservoir is a mesotrophic water body that had undergone slight natural eutrophication.Presented are an     

STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPECIATION OF HEAVY METALS AND THEIR ECOTOXICITY——I. TOXICITY OF Cu, Cd , Pb AND Zn IN SEAWATER TO THREE MARINE ALGAE IN THE PRESENCE OF DIFFERENT COMPLEXATION AGENTS

Heavy metal is a main pollutant in the marine ecosystem . so study on the effect of heavy metal on phytoplankton is important . Algae (Chaetoceros sp . , Dunaliella sp . ., Dicrateria zhanjiangenis Hu . var . sp .) were laboratory cultured to observe the effect of heavy metals on their growth . The effect of different metal ion concentration , the detoxication effect of complexation agents and the growth of algae in different media and different nutrition levels were studied to evaluate the effect of metal speciation . It is proved that trace amount of heavy metals can stimulate the growth of algae cells but that high concentration is lethal . The sequence of toxicity is Cd2+>Zn2+>Pb2+ . In ordinary nutrition conditions , the detoxication sequence of complexation agents to Chaetoceros sp . is EDTA > sodium salicylate > sodium oxalate > sodium citrate > sulfanilic acid > O-phenanthroline . This is in good conformity with the stability constant sequence of these agents with copper and good evidence that t     

Effect of CO2 enrichment on competition between Skeletonema costatum and Heterosigma akashiwo

We investigated the effect of CO₂ enrichment and initial inoculum density on competition between Skeletonema costatum and Heterosigma akashiwo, two common algae seen in algal blooms. The initial inoculum density (0.2×10⁴, 0.4×10⁴, 0.8×10⁴ cells/ml) had a significant effect on population growth and competition between H. akashiwo and S. costatum. The time required for population growth to reach the exponential growth phase and stationary phase decreased significantly as the initial density increased. When the two species were cultured together, S. costatum tended to outcompete H. akashiwo, especially when present at higher initial ratios. CO₂ enrichment (5 000 μl/L CO₂) increased the maximum population density and carrying capacity of H. akashiwo but decreased these measures for S. costatum. Thus, CO₂ enrichment favored the growth of H. akashiwo over S. costatum.     

Effects of iron and humic acid on competition between Microcystis aeruginosa and Scenedesmus obliquus revealed by HPLC analysis of pigments

Iron is a vital micro nutrient for growth of bloom-forming Microcystis aeruginosa and competition with other algae,and its availability is affected by humic acid.The effect of iron and humic acid on growth and competition between M.aeruginosa and Scenedesmus obliquus was assessed.The results showed the growth of M.aeruginosa and S.obliquus in mono-cultures was inhibited by humic acid at low iron concentrations(0.01 mg/L);the maximum inhibition ratios were 67.84% and 38.31%,respectively.The inhibition of humic acid on the two species was significantly alleviated when iron concentrations were1.00 mg/L,with the maximum inhibition rate reduced to 5.82% for M.aeruginosa and to 23.06% for S.obliquus.S.obliquus was the dominant species in mixed cultures,and the mutual inhibition between M.aeruginosa and S.obliquus at low iron concentration was greater than that at high iron concentration.The inhibition of S.obliquus on M.aeruginosa was reduced at low iron concentrations;it increased at high iron concentrations,as concentrations of humic acid rose.     

Salt response of the freshwater microalga Scenedesmus obliquus (Turp.) Kutz is modulated by the algal growth phase

Growth and biochemical responses of the coenobial green alga Scenedesmus obliquus to salinity stress were monitored across different phases of growth. The alga was cultured on BG11 growth medium and subjected to 0, 30, 100, and 200 mmol/L NaCl for a period of 20 d, during which algal cultures were harvested at 4-d intervals. The salinity-induced inhibition of algal growth was accompanied with prolongation of timing of the different growth phases. The sharp and progressive salinity-induced inhibition of algal growth rate during the early phase of growth points to salt shock but moderation of inhibition at the subsequent stages of growth means algal acclimation to salinity. The concentrations of chlorophylls a and b, soluble sugars, proteins as well as those of K+ and Na+ in the alga exhibited peaks at the initiation of the exponential phase of growth, with increasing magnitude in proportion to the increase in the level of salinity. Nevertheless, whereas soluble sugars of the alga peaked at initiation of the exponential phase, starch concentration progressively increased with culture age, reaching saturation towards the stationary phase. Whereas the salinity-induced increase in soluble sugars was most evident at the early stages of growth the reverse was true for starch. The present results point to fast acclimation of S. obliquus to salt stress post a brief salt shock, utilizing soluble sugars, K+ and Na+ for osmotic adjustment. Increasing salinity from 0 to 200 mmol/L NaCl led to progressive increase in soluble sugars, proteins, K + and Na + concentrations of the algal cells, particularly at the early stages of growth. However, the salinity-induced increase in chlorophyll concentration approached a limit at 100 mmol/L NaCl whereas that in starch concentration was more evident at the later stages of growth.     

Growth inhibition and oxidative stress in two species of marine diatoms exposed to 1-phenylethanol

1-phenylethanol(1-PEA)is a flavor extensively used in the production of co smetics,beverages,and food.The release of 1-PEA into coastal environments has aroused great concern.However,its potential effects on marine organisms are still unknown.In order to provide a better understanding of the ecological risks of 1-PEA in marine environments,this study determined the toxic effects of 1-PEA on two marine diatoms(Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Skeletonema costatum).The diatoms were grown in culture medium containing different concentrations of 1-PEA for 96 h.The contents of chlorophyll a,chlorophyll c,glutathione(GSH),malondialdehyde(MDA),and the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT)and glutathione peroxidase(GPx),were measured at the end of the exposure period.1-PEA was shown to significantly inhibit the growth of diatoms,with 96-h EC_(50) values of 257.14 mg/L and 126.46 mg/L in P.tricornutum and S.costatum,respectively.In P.tricornutum,the levels of SOD,CAT,GPx,GSH,and MDA were stimulated only when 1-PEA concentrations were close to or greater than the 96-h EC_(50)value.However,in S.costatum,the activities of SOD and CAT,and the syntheses of two chlorophylls were inhibited even at an exposure concentration below the 96-h EC_(50) value.Taken together,these findings indicate a potential ecological risk by discharging 1-PEA into coastal areas and its species-specific toxic effects on marine organisms.     

Experimental Study on the Interspecific Interactions Between the Two Bloom-Forming Algal Species and the Rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

The interspecific interactions between the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis and two harmful algal blooms(HAB) species were investigated experimentally by single culture method. B. plicatilis population and the growth of the two algae were compared at different algal cell densities. The results demonstrated that the B. plicatilis obtained sufficient nutrition from Prorocentrum donghaiense to support net population increase. With exposure to 2.5×104 cells mL-1 of P. donghaiense,the number of B. plicatilis increa...     

Characteristics of Algal Succession Following Rock Scraping at Imwon Area in the East Coast of Korea

This study was conducted to clarify the characteristics of algal succession following rock scraping using hoe or high-pressure water sprayer in the period from June 2010 to April 2011. We divided the research area off the eastern coast of Korean near Imwon into 3 categories depending upon the severity of the barren ground, i.e., the urchin barren-affected, urchin barren-ongoing and urchin barren-free areas. In April 2011, in the urchin barren-affected area with 25 seaweed species, the cover percentage and importance value(IV) of crustose coralline algae were higher than those of other species. In the urchin barren-ongoing area with 33 seaweed species, crustose coralline algae(mean IV = 62%) as well as Sargassum sp.(mean IV = 28%), and Gelidium amansii(mean IV = 19%) were observed following rock scraping. In the urchin barren-free area where seaweed communities were relatively abundant with 42 species, a variety of algal species including G. amansii(mean IV = 32%) underwent algal succession. Overall, it was observed that, as an aspect of algal succession, the weaker the barren ground severity was, the more frequent and diverse the seaweeds were, and the more complex the succession pattern was in the study. As an aspect of recovering algal community, rock scraping using hoe was shown to be superior to the method using high-pressure water spraying. Therefore, we conclude that rock scraping using hoe is a very effective strategy for recovering the algal community in urchin barren-ongoing area.     

Production of dimethylsulfide and acrylic acid from dimethylsulfoniopropionate during growth of three marine microalgae

We measured the concentrations of dimethylsulfide （DMS）, acrylic acid （AA）, and dimethylsulfoniopropionate （DMSP） during growth of three microalgae： Prorocentrum micans, Gephyrocapsa oceanica, and Platymonas subcordiformis. The DMSP, AA, and DMS concentrations in culture media varied significantly among algal growth stages, with the highest concentrations in the late stationary growth stage or the senescent stage. In the stationary growth stage, the average DMSP concentration per cell in P. micans （0.066 5 pmol/cell） was 1.3 times that in G. oceanica （0.049 5 pmol/ cell） and 20.2 times that in P. subcordiformis （0.003 29 pmol/cell）. The average concentrations of AA were 0.044 6, 0.026 9, and 0.003 05 pmol/cell in P. micans, G. oceanica, and P. subcordiformis, respectively, higher than the concentrations of DMS （0.272, 0.497, and 0.086 2 fmol/cell, respectively）. There were significant positive correlations between cell density and AA, DMSP, and DMS concentrations. The ratios of DMS/AA and AA/（DMSP＋AA） in the three algae differed significantly over the growth cycle. In all three microalgae, the DMS/AA ratios were less than 25% during the growth period, suggesting that the enzymatic cleavage pathway, which generates DMS, was not the main DMSP degradation pathway. The changes in the DMS/AA ratio indicated that there was a higher rate of enzymatic breakdown of DMSP in the early growth period and a lower rate during senescence. In all three microalgae, the AA/（DMSP＋AA） ratio （degradation ratio of DMSP） decreased during the exponential growth phase, and then increased. The variations in these ratios can approximately indicate the cleavage mechanism of DMSP at different stages of algal growth.     

Abundance, biomass and composition of spring ice algal and phytoplankton communities of the Laptev Sea （Arctic）

Abundance,biomass and composition of the ice algal and phytoplank-ton communities were investigated in the southeastern Laptev Sea in spring 1999.Diatoms dominated the algal communities and pennate diatoms dominated the dia-tom population.12 dominant algal species occurred within sea ice and underlyingwater column,including Fragilariopsis oceanica,F.cylindrus,Nitzschiafrigida,N.promare,Achnanthes taeniata,Nitzschia neofrigida,Naviculapelagica,N.vanhoef fenii,N.septentrionalis,Melosira arctica,Clindrothecaclosterium and Pyrarnimonas sp.The algal abundance of bottom 10 cm sea icevaried between 14.6 and 1562.2×10~4 ceils l~(-1)with an average of 639.0×10~4cells l~(-1),and the algal biomass ranged from 7.89 to 2093.5μg C l~(-1)with an av-erage of 886.9μg C l~(-1),which were generally one order of magnitude higherthan those of sub-bottom ice and two orders of magnitude higher than those ofunderlying surface water.The integrated algal abundance and biomass of lower-most 20 cm ice column were averagely 7.7 and 12.2 times as those of upper 20 mwater column,respectively,suggesting that the ice algae might play an importantrole in maintaining the coastal marine ecosystem before the thawing of sea ice.Icealgae influenced the phytoplankton community of the underlying water column.However,the“seeding”of ice algae for phytoplankton bloom was negligible be-cause of the iow phytoplankton biomass within the underlying water column.     

氮、磷、硅对条纹小环藻生长和叶绿素a含量的影响

采用单因子实验方法研究氮、磷和硅营养盐对条纹小环藻(Cyclotella striata)生长和叶绿素a含量的影响。结果表明:在不同磷和硅营养盐浓度下,条纹小环藻比生长率μ变化显著(P<0.05),其中,硝酸盐为0.60~0.85 d-1,硅酸盐为0.49~0.61 d-1,磷酸盐为0.46~0.51 d-1。总体而言,在一定的营养盐浓度范围内,条纹小环藻的最大藻细胞密度Nmax随着氮、磷和硅营养盐浓度的增加而增大;条纹小环藻叶绿素a(Chl a)含量亦随着氮、硅浓度的增加,与Nmax增加趋势一致,但随着磷浓度的增加Chl a先增加后减小,与Nmax不一致。条纹小环藻的主要限制营养元素是氮和硅,而磷可能不会成为其短期培养的限制因子。