The Effects of Zn, Mn, and Co Accumulation on Growth and Chemical Composition of Fucus vesiculosus L under Different Temperature and Salinity Conditions

Abstract. Combined effects of temperature, salinity, and metal enrichment (Zn, Mn, Co) on the growth rate and chemical composition of Fucus vesiculosus L. were studied in culture. Factorial combinations of two temperatures and three salinities were used. The results indicated that the accumulation of Zn and Mn into algal tissue was enhanced by dilution of the media, whereas Co accumulation exhibited maxima at the medium salinity. Zn accumulation was enhanced by temperature, while the opposite was true for Mn and Co.
In the presence of metals the usual dilution-induced changes in growth activity and chemical composition of Fucus plants were altered, while responses to the temperature factor remained unchanged. In diluted media, growth activity and mannitol content decreased along with a simultaneous increase of protein content. In the presence of Zn and Mn the mannitol content exhibited peaks at the medium salinity; in the presence of Co the dilution-induced pattern remained unchanged. Salinity-induced changes in growth and protein content were altered in the presence of metals. Maxima in growth rates were found at the medium salinity. Growth was higher in extremely diluted media than in scawater, indicating an inversion of responses to the salinity factor. Both the growth rate and mannitol content were lowest under the influence of Zn.