Abstract
Experiments on 4 phylogenetically different phytoplankton exposed in culture to a range of concentrations of benzene, toluene and xylene showed a variety of growth responses for marine microalgae. The degree of influence of these aromatic hydrocarbons, all components of fuel oils and crude oils, varied with concentration, compound and species. Stimulation of growth in Dunaliella tertiolecta resulted from low μg/l concentrations of all three compounds, Skeletonema costatum showed no growth enhancement, while Cricosphaera carterae and Amphidinium carterae were intermediate in their reactions. Closed culture vessels were found to be necessary to retain these volatile hydrocarbons. Many of the previous laboratory studies on oil using standard methods — cotton plugs, screw caps or beakers — have overlooked the important influence of the volatile fraction. The species-specific stimulation of low concentrations was further shown in experiments with mixtures of No. 2 fuel oil. The volatile fraction was most biologically reactive, being the source of growth enhancement at low levels and a major growth inhibitor at high concentrations. Thus, a significant environmental effect of oil on marine primary production could be the growth stimulation of particular species by low molecular weight aromatic compounds resulting in an alteration of the natural phytoplankton community structure and its trophic relationships.
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Communicated by M.R. Tripp, Newark
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Dunstan, W.M., Atkinson, L.P. & Natoli, J. Stimulation and inhibition of phytoplankton growth by low molecular weight hydrocarbons. Mar. Biol. 31, 305–310 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392087
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392087