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Seaweed and Chlorophyll as Biomarkers of Metals in the Persian Gulf, Iran

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Abstract

Algal chlorophyll content and chlorophyll type ratios, as biomarkers of stress, were investigated. Ulva intestinalis and Sargassum angustifolium were sampled at low tide, in the intertidal zone of Bushehr Province in January and May, 2010. The mean concentrations of metals in the algae were in the following order: Pb > Ni > Cu > Cd. High negative correlations between chlorophyll a content (r = −0.84, p < 0.01), chlorophyll c content (r = −0.82, p < 0.01), and ratio of chlorophyll c/a in S. angustifolium (r = −0.93, p < 0.001) and Ni concentration in this algae shows that both the content and ratio of chlorophyll may clearly reflect a negative effect of high metal concentrations in this algae.

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Correspondence to M. Alahverdi or M. Savabieasfahani.

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Alahverdi, M., Savabieasfahani, M. Seaweed and Chlorophyll as Biomarkers of Metals in the Persian Gulf, Iran. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 89, 501–506 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0719-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0719-3

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