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The effect of heavy metals on photosynthesis and loss of cell potassium in two species of marine algae, Dunaliella tertiolecta and Phaeodactylum tricornutum

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Abstract

The effects of various heavy metals on light-induced oxygen evolution and on net potassium release were studied in short-term experiments using the unicellular marine algae Dunaliella tertiolecta and Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Heavy metals, except for copper and 3, (3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea (DCMU) did not cause loss of potassium at concentrations similar to or less than those required for inhibition of photosynthesis. At the concentrations used, no significant loss of potassium was observed for Zn2+, Cd2+, Tl+, Pb2+ nor DCMU. With Cu2+, potassium release occurred at a marginally lower concentration than did inhibition of photosynthesis. The extreme sensitivity of light-induced oxygen evolution to inhibition by cadmium and lead found previously by the author (Overnell, 1974) with Chlamydomonas reinhardii was not found with the strains used here.

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Overnell, J. The effect of heavy metals on photosynthesis and loss of cell potassium in two species of marine algae, Dunaliella tertiolecta and Phaeodactylum tricornutum . Mar. Biol. 29, 99–103 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00395531

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