Effects of Heavy Metals on Ulva pertusa Kjellman

Algae > Volume 7(1); 1992 > Article

Algae 1992;7(1): 89-99.

Ik Kyo Chung, Mee Gyung Kim

Department of Marine Science, Pusan National University

ABSTRACT

The effects of metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, and Zn) on Ulva pertusa were examined. Acclimated disc samples were continuously exposed for a maximum period of 2 weeks. Toxicities of metals were examined in terms of growth rates, photosynthetic pigment contents, rates of oxygen evolution and chlorophyll fluorescence induction. Mercury treated samples showed the most toxic impact. Effects were severe in copper treatment, moderate in zinc and low in cadmium. Values of Fmax/Fo ratio in photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence induction remarkably decreased at higher concentrations of metals. It was clearly demonstrated that this can be an effective and reliable tool of assessing toxicity of contaminants in relatively shore term studies. The measurement of growth rate was also a sensitive method. The fine structure of plants in the mercury and zinc treatment showed the swelling of thy-lakoid membranes.

Key words: heavy metals, Ulva pertusa, toxicity, growth rate, fine structure