Bioassay development using early life stages of the marine macroalga, Ecklonia radiata

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:218461

Bidwell, J R; Wheeler, K D; Roper, J ^[1]; Burridge, T R ^[2]

---

1. Curtin Univ. of Technology, Perth (Australia)
2. Victoria Univ. of Technology (Australia)

A lack of standard toxicity test methods for species native to Australia has stimulated research to overcome this deficiency. In the present work, germination inhibition was utilized as an endpoint in 48h bioassays with the marine macroalga Ecklonia radiata. E radiata is often a dominant member of temperate subtidal communities in Australia and other parts of the southern hemisphere. The alga fills an ecological niche similar to that of Macrocystis pyrifera, the giant kelp which occurs in the northern hemisphere. In an adaptation of test methods used for M. pyrifera, release of E. radiata zoospores was induced in the laboratory. Settled spores were then exposed to toxicants for 48 h and germination success was determined by scoring the spores for the development of a germination tube. At 20 C, EC{sub 50} values ranging between 53.4 and 77.4 mg/L were generated in tests with hexavalent chromium (potassium chromate). The EC{sub 50} for copper (cupric chloride) was 0.53 mg/L. Sensitivity of E. radiata to metals such as copper may have significance toward assessing the environmental impacts of some antifoulant coatings used on seagoing vessels. In future studies, growth of zoospore germination tubes and comparative sensitivity of different E. radiata populations will be examined.

• OSTI ID: 218461
• Report Number(s): CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ALGAE
AUSTRALIA
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
CHROMIUM
COPPER
SEAWATER
TOXICITY
WATER POLLUTION