Effect of Copper on Marine Microalga Tetraselmis suecica and its Influence on Intra- and Extracellular Iron and Zinc Content

In an aquatic environment, toxicity of metals to organisms depends on external factors (type of metal, exposure concentration and duration, environmental parameters, and water quality) and intracellular processes(metal-binding sites and detoxification). Toxicity of copper(Cu) on the marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica was investigated in this study. Dose-dependent (Cu concentration dependent) inhibition of growth and cell division, as well as, variation of intra- and extra-cellular Cu, Fe and Zn content was observed. T. suecica was sensitive to Cu; the 96 h $EC_{50}$ (concentration to inhibit growth-rate by 50%) of growth rate (${\mu}$) ($21.73{\mu}M\;L^{-1}$), cell division $day^{-1}$ ($18.39{\mu}M\;L^{-1}$), and cells $mL^{-1}$ ($13.25{\mu}M\;L^{-1}$) demonstrate the toxicity of Cu on this microalga. High intra-($19.86Pg\;cell^{-1}$) and extra-cellular($54.73Pg\;cell^{-1}$) Cu concentrations were recorded, on exposure to 24.3 and $72.9{\mu}M\;L^{-1}$ of Cu.