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Effect of organic chemicals on growth and reproduction in the marine red alga Champia Parvula
Author(s) -
Thursby Glen B.,
Steele Richard L.,
Kane Michael E.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620040611
Subject(s) - reproduction , algae , red tide , biology , environmental chemistry , zoology , ecology , chemistry
Abstract A previously developed static‐renewal toxicity test was used to test the effect of 10 organic chemicals on the growth and reproduction of the marine red alga Champia parvula (C. Agardh) Harvey. The test measured vegetative growth, formation of tetrasporangia (site of meiosis — asexual spore production) and production of cystocarps (evidence of sexual reproduction). The procedure was used to test the effects of one ketone (isophorone), two volatile hydrocarbons (benzene and naphthalene), three phenols (phenol, 2,4,5‐trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol) and four chlorinated hydrocarbons (2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, endosulfan, pentachloroethane and toxaphene). Chronic values were determined for vegetative growth and formation of reproductive structures based on statistically significant decreases from control levels. Absence of reproductive structures was also used to determine chronic values. No endpoint was consistently more sensitive than any other, and the ranking of the compounds from most to least toxic was similar regardless of the endpoint used. The results of these tests indicate that the Champia test is often as sensitive or more so than the most sensitive aquatic animal test and is almost always more sensitive than microalgae tests, demonstrating the importance of conducting chronic tests with the previously overlooked macroalgae. The test is easily conducted, sensitive and reproducible.