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Metal assessment and cellular accumulation dynamics in the green macroalga Ulva lactuca

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Abstract

We have tested Ulva lactuca Linnaeus as a metal biomonitor by measuring the concentrations of metals copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and mercury (Hg) in its biomass and in nearby sediments, within impacted and non-impacted sites in central Chile. Moreover, through Cu exposure laboratory experiments, we observed the dynamics of intracellular and extracellular Cu accumulation in two populations of U. lactuca. Highest metal levels in U. lactuca were associated with human activities; the exception was Cd, with high levels in the control site, although this could be explained due to the important nearby upwelling conditions. Laboratory experiments showed that more of the 90% of the total Cu in the two populations of U. lactuca was accumulated intracellularly, without intra-specific differences. Biomonitoring with U. lactuca provides a positive representation of metal status, which is reinforced in combination with metal measurements in sediments. Weak patterns in metal exclusion suggest the use of different strategies to counteract metal excess in U. lactuca, for instance, associated with the syntheses of metal chelators and the antioxidant metabolism.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the financial support from project Convenio Desempeño UPA 1301 at the University of Playa Ancha to C.A. Sáez. We also appreciate the budget contribution from FONDECYT project nos. 11160369 and 1150855 granted to C.A. Sáez and M.G. Lobos, respectively, and project FONDEQUIP no. EQM120169 to M.G. Lobos.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Research, Centre of Advanced Studies, University of Playa Ancha, Viña del Mar, Chile

    Felipe A. Valdés & Claudio A. Sáez

  2. Department of Environment, Faculty of Engineering, University of Playa Ancha, Valparaíso, Chile

    Felipe A. Valdés

  3. Laboratory of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile

    M. Gabriela Lobos & Patricia Díaz

Authors
  1. Felipe A. Valdés
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  2. M. Gabriela Lobos
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  3. Patricia Díaz
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  4. Claudio A. Sáez
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Correspondence to Claudio A. Sáez.

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Valdés, F.A., Gabriela Lobos, M., Díaz, P. et al. Metal assessment and cellular accumulation dynamics in the green macroalga Ulva lactuca . J Appl Phycol 30, 663–671 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-017-1244-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-017-1244-x

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