Effect of lead on the uptake of nutrients by unicellular algae

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) Vol. 27; no. 10; pp. 1563 - 1568
• Main Authors: Capelo, Sofia, Vilhena, M.F., Simões Gonçalves, M.L.S., Sampayo, M.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1993; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; complexes; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi; exudates; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; lead; nitrogen; phosphorus; pigments; Selenastrum capricornutum; unicellular alga; voltammetry; pigments; voltammetry; unicellular alga; nitrogen; exudates; lead; phosphorus; complexes; Chlorophyll; Algae; Chlorophycophyta; Fluorescence; Phosphorus; Nitrogen; Selenastrum capricornutum; Heavy metal; Biological purification; Absorption; Pigments; Lead; pH; Nutrient; Water pollution; Carotenoid; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0043-1354; 1879-2448
• DOI: 10.1016/0043-1354(93)90101-M

From batch growth experiments carried out with the alga Selenastrum capricornutum Printz the evolution of uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus with time in the absence and presence of lead 1 × 10 −6 M and at pH 7 and 4 has been considered. The change of pigments (chlorophylls a, b and vegetal carotenoids) with time, as well as the labile and total lead in the medium and in the alga and the fluorescence compounds released by the alga, have also been analysed. Relationships between phosphorus in the alga and the pigments and lead in the cell, as well as between phosphorus and fluorescence compounds exudated by each unit of the unicellular alga, have been examined in order to try to understand the biochemical mechanism.