Adaptation of Selenastrum capricornutum (Chlorophyceae) to copper

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
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Abstract

Selenastrum capricornutum Printz, growing in a chemically defined medium, was used as a model for studying adaptation of algae to a toxic metal (copper) ion. Cells exhibited lag‐phase adaptation to 0.8 μM total Cu (10−12 M free ion concentration) after 20 generations of Cu exposure. Selenastrum adapted to the same concentration when Cu was gradually introduced over an 8‐h period using a specially designed apparatus that provided a transient increase in exposure concentration. Cu adaptation was not attributable to media conditioning by algal exudates. Duration of lag phase was a more sensitive index of copper toxicity to Selenastrum that was growth rate or stationary‐phase cell density under the experimental conditions used. Chemical speciation of the Cu dosing solution influenced the duration of lag phase even when media formulations were identical after dosing. Selenastrum initially exposed to Cu in a CuCl2 injection solution exhibited a lag phase of 3.9 d, but this was reduced to 1.5 d when a CuEDTA solution was used to achieve the same total Cu and EDTA concentrations. Physical and chemical processes that accelerated the rate of increase in cupric ion concentration generally increased the duration of lag phase.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Adaptation of Selenastrum capricornutum (Chlorophyceae) to copper
Series title Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
DOI 10.1002/etc.5620050211
Volume 5
Issue 2
Year Published 1986
Language English
Publisher Wiley
Contributing office(s) Toxic Substances Hydrology Program
Description 7 p.
First page 197
Last page 203
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