Difference between revisions of "Pollution and algae"

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<u>'''Heavy metals'''</u>
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[[Image:Champia_parvula.jpg|thumb|right|250px| <div style="text-align: center;">
Algae contain higher concentrations of metals than the surrounding water. <ref>Elliot, M.; Hemingway, K. (2002). Fishes in estuaries. Blackwell Science: London, UK. 636 pp.</ref>
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''Champia parvula'' © Ignacio Bárbara 
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Heavy metals are known to be able to depress algal growth when they are present above a certain threshold level. They also destabilize the cel membrane of algae, this causes the algae change their shape, or inhibit the celdivision, causing the algae to grow.  <ref>Md. Shahidul Islam and Masaru Tanaka, 2004, Impacts of pollution on coastal and marine ecosystems including coastal and marine fisheries and approach for management: a review and synthesis, Marine Pollution Bulletin Volume 48, 7-8 Pages 624-649.</ref>
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Algae are often unicellular (e.g. diatoms), as such they are constantly in direct contact with their environment to acquire the [[nutrient|nutrients]] necessary to grow, and perform photosynthesis. While acquiring these nutrients, [[pollutant|pollutants]] such as [[heavy metals]] or [[organochlorine compounds]] may enter the cell as well, and [[bioaccumulation|accumulate]] there.<ref>Elliot, M.; Hemingway, K. (2002). Fishes in estuaries. Blackwell Science: London, UK. 636 pp.</ref> If they accumulate above certain threshold concentrations, heavy metals can depress algal growth. They can also destabilize their cell membrane, which inhibits cell division or causes the algae to change shape.  <ref>Md. Shahidul Islam and Masaru Tanaka, 2004, Impacts of pollution on coastal and marine ecosystems including coastal and marine fisheries and approach for management: a review and synthesis, Marine Pollution Bulletin Volume 48, 7-8 Pages 624-649.</ref>
  
<u>'''Organochlorine compounds'''</u>
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Organochlorine compounds can inhibit photosynthesis and algae cell growth. However, there seems to be a wide range in the tolerance of algae towards these compounds. Some species are affected at lower concentrations than other algae species. Therefore these compounds might influence the algae community structure, and thus threaten the algae biodiversity and their seasonal cycles. <ref>https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/bitstream/1811/5666/1/V72N01_006.pdf</ref>
 
 
DDT inhibits photosynthesis and growth  
 
DDT accumulates in algae, it adsorbs to the lipids of the algae, enriching the algae concentration towards the environmental. However, there seems to be a wide range in the tolerance of algae towards these compounds. Therefore the compounds might be a threat to the algae biodiversity and seasonal cycles of algae.  
 
<ref>https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/bitstream/1811/5666/1/V72N01_006.pdf</ref>
 
  
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Below you can find some links to Belgian case studies on ecotoxicology in algae.
  
 
== Case studies ==
 
== Case studies ==
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Case study 1:[[PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in Antarctic algae]]<ref>Joiris, C.R.; Overloop, W. (1991). PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in phytoplankton and zooplankton in the Indian sector of the Southern ocean. Antarctic Science 3: 371-377</ref>
 
Case study 1:[[PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in Antarctic algae]]<ref>Joiris, C.R.; Overloop, W. (1991). PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in phytoplankton and zooplankton in the Indian sector of the Southern ocean. Antarctic Science 3: 371-377</ref>
 
 
  
  
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<references/>
 
<references/>
  
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{{author
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|AuthorID=19826
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|AuthorFullName=Daphnis De Pooter
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|AuthorName=Daphnisd}}
  
[[Category:North Sea]]
 
 
[[Category:Coastal and marine pollution]]
 
[[Category:Coastal and marine pollution]]
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[[Category:Ecotoxicology]]

Latest revision as of 17:42, 5 November 2019

Champia parvula © Ignacio Bárbara

Algae are often unicellular (e.g. diatoms), as such they are constantly in direct contact with their environment to acquire the nutrients necessary to grow, and perform photosynthesis. While acquiring these nutrients, pollutants such as heavy metals or organochlorine compounds may enter the cell as well, and accumulate there.[1] If they accumulate above certain threshold concentrations, heavy metals can depress algal growth. They can also destabilize their cell membrane, which inhibits cell division or causes the algae to change shape. [2]

Organochlorine compounds can inhibit photosynthesis and algae cell growth. However, there seems to be a wide range in the tolerance of algae towards these compounds. Some species are affected at lower concentrations than other algae species. Therefore these compounds might influence the algae community structure, and thus threaten the algae biodiversity and their seasonal cycles. [3]

Below you can find some links to Belgian case studies on ecotoxicology in algae.

Case studies

Case study 1:PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in Antarctic algae[4]


References

  1. Elliot, M.; Hemingway, K. (2002). Fishes in estuaries. Blackwell Science: London, UK. 636 pp.
  2. Md. Shahidul Islam and Masaru Tanaka, 2004, Impacts of pollution on coastal and marine ecosystems including coastal and marine fisheries and approach for management: a review and synthesis, Marine Pollution Bulletin Volume 48, 7-8 Pages 624-649.
  3. https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/bitstream/1811/5666/1/V72N01_006.pdf
  4. Joiris, C.R.; Overloop, W. (1991). PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in phytoplankton and zooplankton in the Indian sector of the Southern ocean. Antarctic Science 3: 371-377
The main author of this article is Daphnis De Pooter
Please note that others may also have edited the contents of this article.

Citation: Daphnis De Pooter (2019): Pollution and algae. Available from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Pollution_and_algae [accessed on 28-03-2024]