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Comparative sensitivity of Scenedesmus acutus and Chlorella pyrenoidosa as sentinel organisms for aquatic ecotoxicity assessment: Studies on a highly polluted urban river
Author(s) -
Olguín Héctor F.,
Salibián Alfredo,
Puig Alba
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
environmental toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1522-7278
pISSN - 1520-4081
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1522-7278(2000)15:1<14::aid-tox3>3.0.co;2-6
Subject(s) - chlorella pyrenoidosa , ecotoxicity , nutrient , cadmium , ecotoxicology , bioassay , environmental chemistry , ceriodaphnia dubia , environmental science , biomass (ecology) , biology , water quality , aquatic ecosystem , eutrophication , algae , botany , cladocera , ecology , chemistry , chlorella , toxicity , organic chemistry , crustacean
The effects of spatial and temporal differences on the water quality of the urban contaminated Reconquista River (Argentina) were evaluated by means of bioassays based on the growth of two algal populations ( Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus acutus ). The effects produced by the addition of cadmium and/or nutrient salts to the samples were also assayed. Noticeable differences in algal biomass were detected among samples from different sites, the highest values corresponding to the most polluted zones. The toxic effect of cadmium was more pronounced in S. acutus than in C. pyrenoidosa , particularly in the least polluted waters. The addition of nutrient salts to the culture medium attenuated heavy metal toxicity, mainly to C. pyrenoidosa , and also revealed nutrient limitation to algal growth in certain sites and dates. Site classifications based both on algal bioassays and on physical and chemical variables showed good agreement. ©2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 15: 14–22, 2000