Open AccessPhysiological responses of Tetrahymena pyriformis to copper, zinc, cycloheximide and Triton X‐100
Author(s) -
Nicolau Ana,
Mota Manuel,
Lima Nelson
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.1999.tb00649.x
Subject(s) - tetrahymena pyriformis , biology , ciliate , tetrahymena , protozoa , cycloheximide , bioassay , toxicity , zinc , grazing , copper , microbiology and biotechnology , copper toxicity , botany , biochemistry , ecology , protein biosynthesis , chemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , metallurgy
Protozoa, and particularly ciliates, are essential in aerobic purification processes of wastewaters and have proved to be very sensitive to environmental changes. The physiological response of the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis was assessed in terms of mortality, growth and grazing capacity after exposure to four toxicants: copper, zinc, cycloheximide and Triton X‐100. In the ranges of concentrations used, mortality, inhibition of growth and inhibition of grazing were observed with all toxicants employed, but in different ways. Copper and zinc showed lower toxicity than observed in other studies with protozoa, though some of the present results are in accordance with those reported by other authors. This supports the importance of the organism tested and the experimental conditions of the bioassays.