洱海微囊藻水华的水生态风险评估研究

以洱海微囊藻水华为研究对象, 借鉴生态毒理学风险评估思路对藻类水华的水生态风险进行评价。研究通过暴露实验以及查阅文献获取了微囊藻水华对底栖动物、浮游动物、鱼类和沉水植物的效应数据, 采用毒性百分数排序法推导了洱海微囊藻水华的急性和慢性效应藻密度, 用风险商值评估微囊藻水华密度的水生态风险。进一步结合水华盖度和持续时间制定了微囊藻水华的急性、慢性生态风险评价表。研究结果表明, 微囊藻水华的急性生态风险分为低中高三级, 分别为微囊藻藻密度小于3.4×106 cells/L为低风险,微囊藻藻密度在3.4×106—3.4×107 cells/L之间为中风险,微囊藻密度大于3.4×107 cells/L为高风险。慢性生态风险同样分为低中高三级, 分别为微囊藻藻密度小于1.1×106 cells/L为低风险,微囊藻藻密度在1.1×106—1.1×107 cells/L为中风险,微囊藻密度大于1.1×107 cells/L为高风险。实际应用中需综合微囊藻水华密度、面积和持续时间, 制定洱海微囊藻水华水生态风险评价标准。当微囊藻水华处于中风险状态时, 应启动预警、强化水质管理和生物抑制措施, 当处于高风险状态时, 应采取水华的应急处理措施。研究结果有助于洱海微囊藻水华的科学管理。     

贵州高原红枫水库浮游植物中脂肪酸组成特征及影响因素

为探究水体浮游植物脂肪酸组成特征及影响因素,对采集于贵阳红枫水库3个采样点的浮游植物脂肪酸进行了研究。结果表明:红枫水库浮游植物以蓝藻为主;脂肪酸组成中饱和脂肪酸(SFA)占主导地位,二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)与二十碳五烯酸(EPA)含量均比较低。水体营养水平能影响脂肪酸组成,富营养化水平越高,SFA含量越高,单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)与多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)含量越低;脂肪酸组成特征能反映浮游植物物种组成,DHA与蓝藻呈显著负相关(R=-0.87,P0.05,n=6),DHA含量越高的水体蓝藻含量越低;部分PUFA含量与蓝藻含量呈显著正相关(R=0.89,P0.05,n=6)。     

用鲢鳙直接控制微囊藻水华的围隔试验和湖泊实践

为了控制水体富营养化所形成的水华,国外经典的生物操纵论者提倡放养食鱼性鱼类以控制食浮游生物的鱼类,藉此壮大浮游动物种群,然后借助浮游动物遏制藻类.按照这条思路,以浮游生物为食的鲢和鳙应该是清除的对象.本文作者认为我国湖泊中危害性最大的是微囊藻水华,而浮游动物根本不能摄食这种水华,不如直接利用鲢鳙进行控制,因而1989-1992年间在武汉的东湖进行了三次原位围隔试验,2000年再度重复了一次围隔试验,结果证明,迄今在东湖中已消失18年的微囊藻水华,重新出现在不养鱼的围隔里.在养入一定密度的鲢或/和鳙的围隔中,就没有水华出现.已经出现水华的围隔,放入适当密度的鲢或/和鳙后,在短期内水华又复消失;而放入草鱼的围隔,则水华始终持续,不受影响.说明鲢和鳙能有效地遏制微囊藻水华.鲢、鳙遏制水华的有效放养密度(亦即有效生物量)为46-50g·m^-3.东湖湖泊中鲢、鳙的生物量,直到1985年才达到这个水平,所以1985年湖里反常地没有出现水华.往后的年份,东湖的鱼产量越来越高,也就是湖里鲢、鳙的生物量越来越大,所以迄今没有微囊藻卷土重来的机会.东湖的水质和其他非生物条件仍适于蓝藻水华的发生与发展,如果东湖鲢、鳙的产量下降到阈值以下,亦即降到1985年以前1000t水平,那么微囊藻及其它蓝藻水华的重来将是不可避免的.经典的生物操纵论学说和措施不能解决微囊藻水华猖獗的问题.相反,用滤食浮游生物的鲢和鳙直接遏制微囊藻却是有实验根据并已被渔业生产实践证明行之有效的.     

黄龙带水库甲藻水华的脂肪酸组成特征

浮游植物是水体颗粒物中最重要的组成,同时也是生态系统中物质和能量传递的重要物质基础。脂肪酸是浮游植物细胞内一种重要的生理构件,并具有重要和特殊的生理功能。由于不同浮游植物所含的颗粒脂肪酸不同,因此自然水体中的颗粒脂肪酸种类和数量的组成与变化反映了水体中浮游植物的群落结构及演替过程。在水体富营养化过程中,浮游植物的组成也随之变化,因此研究水体中颗粒脂肪酸的浓度和组成结构可以直接反映水体的富营养化水平和特征的生化指标,也能有利于掌握不同类型浮游植物水华的发生机制。2005年4月,在中国广东一座处于北回归线中营养型水平的水库-黄龙带水库中发生了二角多甲藻水华,本研究主要研究了此次水华过程中的浮游植物群落结构的变化、水体中颗粒物的脂肪酸组成和浓度的变化,探讨了热带亚热带地区二角多甲藻水华过程中浮游植物群落与脂肪酸组成特征、脂肪酸组成特征与水体营养状态之间的关系。结果表明:黄龙带水库为中富营养水平水库,此次共鉴定出藻类28种,二角多甲藻(Peridinium bipes Stein)是这次水华的优势种。其生物量变化为0～5138μg·L^-1。在水华高峰期二角多甲藻生物量占总生物量的80%以上,水华消退期占30%以下。硅藻生物量在水华高峰期有下降趋势,水华消失期有上升趋势;蓝藻的增长趋势更加明显,绿藻在整个过程中生物量较低,波动不大。水华过程中脂肪酸的种类丰富,浓度很高。共检测出脂肪酸21种,包括各种饱和脂肪酸(SFA),单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)和多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA),含量变化为0～74.593μg·L^-1。在水华高峰期,偶碳数饱和脂肪酸占有非常明显的优势,而奇碳数脂肪酸相对浓度较少,总脂肪酸浓度为85.5～192.2μg·L^-1。与水华高峰期相比,水华消退期的总脂肪酸浓度仅有16.5～45.5μg·L^-1。水华消退期饱和脂肪酸的相对丰度要高于水华高峰期,而多不饱和脂肪酸的相对丰度则相反。C18:5和EPA、DHA等甲藻标志脂肪酸的检出频率和浓度较高,颗粒物脂肪酸特征较好地反映了甲藻水华过程浮游植物群落结构的变化;并为淡水甲藻脂肪酸的研究提供一些基础资料。     

乌江渡水库养殖鱼类汞及脂肪酸的组成特征

为了评估网箱鱼营养价值,了解乌江渡水库养殖鱼的汞含量及脂肪酸的组成,随机采集优势鱼10种共计120个样品,测定了总汞、甲基汞以及包括长链不饱和脂肪酸(n6/n3 PUFA)和EPA、DHA等形态的脂肪酸。结果显示:乌江渡水库养殖鱼的总汞含量在3.50~185.05 ng·g-1,平均含量为23.90 ng·g-1;甲基汞含量在0.16~49.09 ng·g-1,平均含量为7.78 ng·g-1。乌江渡水库养殖鱼汞含量总体较低,均未超过我国水产品食用安全标准。同时,样品中的人体必需脂肪酸n3 PUFA中的EPA+DHA含量以鲫鱼最高,肉食性的鲶鱼最低。通过对n6/n3 PUFA比值分析发现,乌江养殖鱼除了富含EPA和DHA同时也富含较高的n6PUFA。对于乌江渡水库养殖鱼来说,武昌鱼、白鲢、草鱼、青鱼以及丁桂鱼是含有较高EPA+DHA和较低甲基汞的鱼种,具有较高的营养价值。     

棕鞭藻及其培养滤液对铜绿微囊藻生长及生理特性的影响

为探究藻类之间的可能存在的信息传递, 研究了棕鞭藻(Ochromonas sp.)及其培养滤液对铜绿微囊藻的生长及生理特性的影响。结果发现, 3种不同接种比例(1﹕4、1﹕1和4﹕1)的棕鞭藻与微囊藻共培养下, 微囊藻细胞密度到第4天均下降到最低值, 而棕囊藻细胞密度则显著增加。同时, 棕鞭藻培养滤液能够抑制微囊藻的生长、导致丙二醛(MDA)含量和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性。此外, 棕鞭藻培养滤液也能促进微囊藻胞外多糖(EPS)含量显著增加。这表明棕鞭藻不仅能吞噬微囊藻, 而且可能释放某些化感物质抑制微囊藻生长及生理参数。这暗示了棕鞭藻可作为潜在的藻类水华控制生物, 抑制早期藻类大量增殖。     

NaNO3胁迫对两种微囊藻VOCs释放的影响

为了揭示硝酸盐过量积累对藻类产生胁迫后对藻类挥发性有机化合物(VOCs)释放以及水体气味的影响, 研究以形成蓝藻水华的主要种类铜绿微囊藻和水华微囊藻为材料, 在NaNO3胁迫下, 对其细胞生长和释放的VOCs进行测定分析。结果表明, NaNO3胁迫24h后, 铜绿微囊藻和水华微囊藻细胞生长均受到明显影响, 与对照相比细胞密度分别降低了29.6%和43.0%。在正常条件下, 铜绿微囊藻和水华微囊藻分别释放出26和27种化合物, 其主要类型是硫化物、烃类、萜烯类、苯类、醛类和酯类化合物。在NaNO3胁迫下, VOCs含量均明显增加, 其中铜绿微囊藻释放的此6类VOCs含量分别增加了60.5%、14.3%、136.6%、92.1%、730.0%和120.7%, 水华微囊分别增加了172.7%、162.5%、154.0%、55.9%、51.2%和109.4%。此外, 铜绿微囊藻VOCs中出现4种新成分, 水华微囊藻VOCs中出现1种新成分。由此可见, 硝酸盐过量积累对藻细胞产生胁迫后会诱导其释放出大量VOCs, 从而增加水体气味、破坏水质。       

条石鲷仔、稚、幼鱼脂肪酸组成变化研究

通过采用GC/MS法研究了条石鲷(Oplegnathus fasciatus)仔鱼、稚鱼及幼鱼阶段的脂肪酸组成和变化特点。共检测到28种脂肪酸,其中饱和脂肪酸(SFA)13种,单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)7种,多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)8种。结果表明:条石鲷鱼苗内源性营养阶段以饱和脂肪酸C16∶0、C20∶0及单不饱和脂肪酸C16∶1、C18∶1作为能量代谢的主要来源;必需脂肪酸C20∶4(n-6)(AA)、C22∶5(n-3)(DPA)和C22∶6(n-3)(DHA)在稚鱼期含量较低,∑EPA+DHA仅为6.89%,认为是发生稚鱼"胀鳔病"的主要原因;仔鱼开口前体内的DHA和EPA是由母体卵黄提供的。     

池塘微囊藻生态环境调研与水华防抑试验

通过宏观调查、系统测定和有关试验,分析了池塘微囊藻及其生态环境,并对该藻水华的预防和抑制进行了探讨。有微囊藻水华的池塘占到宏观调查池塘总数的50％以上。水华出现时间一般是6月至9月,这些池塘里的鲢、鳙鱼生长不良。系统测定中,探讨了池塘微囊藻生态环境,以及微囊藻生物量占浮游植物量的百分比（MPB％）,分别与水中三态氮、有效磷等含量的关系。防抑试验启示,通过适当加大生石灰用量,并采用施肥培水等方式,对预防微囊藻水华的形成有效。微囊藻水华盛期,用药物和追肥抑制法加以控制为好。     

低强度超声波抑制铜绿微囊藻生长的研究

铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)是常见的水华蓝藻,会对湖库的生态环境造成严重危害.室内研究了低强度超声波在不同藻生长时相、藻细胞浓度、水体pH、水温和二次超声条件下对铜绿微囊藻的抑制效果.结果表明:藻细胞浓度和pH对超声抑藻效果无明显影响,藻生长时相、水温和超声次数对超声抑藻效果有明显影响.15℃、20℃和25℃时的超声抑藻效果好于30℃和35℃,不经超声作用40℃高温即已不利于藻细胞生长;低强度超声对延滞期、稳定期和衰退期铜绿微囊藻抑制效果好于指数生长期铜绿微囊藻;二次超声可有效延长残余藻细胞的恢复时间,稳定抑藻效果.     

Quantitative analysis of phenolics in selected crop species and biological activity of these compounds evaluated by sensitivity of Echinochloa crus-galli

The purpose of this study was to determine the content of selected phenolic compounds in white mustard, buckwheat, spring barley, oat and rye grown under field conditions. Moreover, the allelopathic efficiency of these compounds was evaluated by sensitivity of Echinochloa crus-galli. The aromatic acids: trans-cinnamic, salicylic, ferulic, chlorogenic, p-hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic, p-coumaric and vanillic were separated from crop plants by TLC and determined spectrophotometrically. Differences in concentrations of analysed compounds were observed for most of the examined plant species. The highest concentration was noticed for cinnamic acid and ranged from 360 μg·g⁻¹ DW in rye to 2770 μg·g⁻¹ DW in spring barley. The relatively high concentration was noticed for ferulic acid (from 73.8 μg·g⁻¹ DW in buckwheat to 1046 μg·g⁻¹ DW in spring barley) and p-coumaric acid (from 50 μg·g⁻¹ DW in oat to 1499 μg·g⁻¹ DW in buckwheat). The observed differences in the phenolics content between two successive vegetation seasons can reflect the effect of abiotic and biotic environmental factors on the phenolics level in studied plants. In the greenhouse experiment the effect of particular compounds on the growth of Echinochloa crus-galli was also studied. It has been found that the examined phenolics, and especially trans-cinnamic acid and mixture of phenolic compounds, significantly inhibit the growth of Echinochloa crus-galli. The obtained results may contribute to the explanation of the biological activity of some phenolic compounds.     

FATTY ACID CONTENT AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF FRESHWATER MICROALGAE1

Fatty acid (FA), total lipid, protein, amino acid, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content was analyzed in 24 samples of freshwater microalgae. The samples originated from batch, continuous, or mass cultures in various growth phases and from net samples from lakewater. FA were analyzed quantitatively by using an internal standard in a GLC system and expressed as mg·g^?1 dry weight (DW). The FA of one group of blue-greens (e.g. Oscillatoria and Microcystis) were similar to those of the greens with higher amounts of 18C acids of the ω3 type compared to the ω6 type, whereas the other group (e.g. Anabaena and Spirulina) contained mostly ω6 acids. The flagellates, a taxonomically diverse group, were characterized by high amounts of long-chained (20–22 C) polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), particularly of the ω3 type. The ω3/ω6 ratio appears to be highest in algae in the exponential growth phase. The increased lipid content in stressed algae was mostly due to increased saturated fatty acids and ω6 acids, whereas the valuable ω3 acids were unchanged or even decreased. Amino acid composition (% of total amino acids) did not vary much betaken species, but when analyzed quantitatively (mg-g^?1 DW), varied considerably between species and within species in different growth phases. The nitrogen and phosphorus contents were variable in all three algal groups. The relationship between PUFA and phosphorus content differed among the algal groups. The data suggest that PUFA in the phospholipids consist mostly ω3 acids.     

QUANTITATIVE GENETICS OF FATTY ACID VARIATION IN ISOCHRYSIS GALBANA (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE) AND PHAEODACTYLUM TRICORNUTUM (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)1

Fatty acid variation among culture collection strains and 40 new isolates of Isochrysis galbana Parke was analyzed by quantitative genetic methods. Fatty acid variation among strains and among isolates was highly significant for major fatty acids showing the existence of a genetic component in the determination of differences in fatty acid content. The heritabilities for the major fatty acids ranged between 0.68 and 0.99 among collection strains and between 0.31 and 0.43 among isolates. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) had the highest heritability in I. galbana, but the majority of remaining fatty acids also showed high heritability values. A similar experiment with five UTEX strains of Phaeodactylum tricornutum also showed the presence of a genetic component in four out of seven major fatty acids. Nevertheless, the UTEX strains did not differ significantly in EPA content, although they showed a heritability of 0.40 for this fatty acid. An additional experiment culturing the same isolates of I. galbana in larger volumes of media showed that there was a high significant positive linear relation between EPA content in different volumes. Therefore, EPA content in small volume cultures was an unbiased indicator of EPA content in larger volume cultures. Our results provide support for the genetic determination of fatty acid content in microalgae and suggest that selection, and mutation and selection, are likely to improve EPA content in I. galbana and probably in many other microalgae. Such a selection program can be carried out in small-volume cultures with high confidence.     

Overexpression of endogenous delta-6 fatty acid desaturase gene enhances eicosapentaenoic acid accumulation in Phaeodactylum tricornutum

The effect of overexpression of endogenous delta-6 fatty acid desaturase gene (ER<DELTA>6FAD) on eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) production and total lipid content was investigated in Phaeodactylum tricornutum. All three randomly selected transformants exhibited significant increase (47.66%) in their EPA content, which reached up to 38.101 mg/g DW in algal strain D63. The total lipid content of all the three transformants was significantly higher (16.40–18.64%) than that of the wild-type strain. These findings suggested that the reaction catalyzed by ER<DELTA>6FAD is a limiting step for EPA biosynthesis, overexpression of endogenous ER<DELTA>6FAD gene is an effective method for improving EPA production in eukaryotic microalgae, and fatty acid metabolic pathway in microalgae can be genetically modified.     

球形棕囊藻的生长、囊体形态以及囊体细胞的分布

球形棕囊藻(Phaeocystis globosa)是中国近海海区常见有害藻华原因种, 其异型生活史中包含单细胞和球形囊体两种形态。游离单细胞直径一般为几微米, 囊体最大直径可达3 cm, 巨大的体积可能导致囊体具有特殊的结构和细胞分布。以球形棕囊藻汕头株为研究对象, 测定了囊体直径、囊体细胞丰度和游离单细胞丰度, 并探讨球形棕囊藻囊体形态与细胞分布的关系。研究结果表明, 囊体形态在其异型生活史中占优势, 囊体对生物量的贡献介于38%–95%之间, 在对数生长期的后期和稳定期, 囊体细胞与单细胞相比占绝对优势。囊体细胞数量与囊体直径的对数呈线性相关, 回归线斜率为1.34, 该值显著低于世界海区其它球形棕囊藻株系的研究结果, 表明汕头株单位囊体表面上分布的细胞数更少。中国海区的球形棕囊藻囊体结构和细胞分布与其它株系不同, 在爆发球形棕囊藻的海区, 巨大的囊体能够有效地抵御摄食, 可能对区域海洋食物链结构和功能有重要影响。     

Extraction of DNA from anostracan cysts (Crustacea,Branchiopoda) for use in RAPD-PCR analyses

The total lipid content in Artemia franciscana (21–23% ofdry weight (DW)) when enriched with either Super Selco or DHA Selco wastwice as high as in the adult copepods Temora longicornis and Eurytemora sp.(9–11% of DW). In Brachionus plicatilis the total lipid contentwas 11 and 6.6% for cultures growing at high and low growth rate,0.12 d^–1 and 0.38 d^–1, respectively. In thecopepodid stages I, II and III of Calanus finmarchicus the total lipid levelwas 12–13%, increasing to 24% in copepodid stage IV, Vand the adults. In T. longicornis and Eurytemora sp. the predominant fattyacids were DHA (22:6n-3), EPA (20:5n-3) and the saturated fatty acid 16:0,which constituted 40–45%, 21–24% and8–12% of total fatty acids, respectively. C. finmarchicuscontained the same dominant fatty acids. In both the cultivated live feedorganisms DHA, EPA and 18:1 were the predominant fatty acids. In A.franciscana the content of these fatty acids varied according to theenrichment medium and in B. plicatilis according to the growth rate.     

Strain variability in fatty acid composition of Chattonella marina (Raphidophyceae) and its relation to differing ichthyotoxicity toward rainbow trout gill cells

Lipid profiles of three strains (Mexico, Australia, Japan) of Chattonella marina (Subrahmanyan) Hara et Chihara were studied under defined growth (phosphate, light, and growth phase) and harvest (intact and ruptured cells) conditions. Triacylglycerol levels were always <2%, sterols <7%, free fatty acids varied between 2 and 33%, and polar lipids were the most abundant lipid class (>51% of total lipids). The major fatty acids in C. marina were palmitic (16:0), eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20:5ω3), octadecatetraenoic (18:4ω3), myristic (14:0), and palmitoleic (16:1ω7c) acids. Higher levels of EPA were found in ruptured cells (21.4–29.4%) compared to intact cells (8.5–25.3%). In general, Japanese N‐118 C. marina was the highest producer of EPA (14.3–29.4%), and Mexican CMCV‐1 the lowest producer (7.9–27.1%). Algal cultures, free fatty acids from C. marina, and the two aldehydes 2E,4E‐decadienal and 2E,4E‐heptadienal (suspected fatty acid‐derived products) were tested against the rainbow trout fish gill cell line RTgill‐W1. The configuration of fatty acids plays an important role in ichthyotoxicity. Free fatty acid fractions, obtained by base saponification of total lipids from C. marina showed a potent toxicity toward gill cells (median lethal concentration, LC₅₀ (at 1 h) of 0.44 μg · mL^?1 in light conditions, with a complete loss of viability at >3.2 μg · mL^?1). Live cultures of Mexican C. marina were less toxic than Japanese and Australian strains. This difference could be related to differing EPA content, superoxide anion production, and cell fragility. The aldehydes 2E,4E‐decadienal and 2E,4E‐heptadienal also showed high impact on gill cell viability, with LC₅₀ (at 1 h) of 0.34 and 0.36 μg · mL^?1, respectively. Superoxide anion production was highest in Australian strain CMPL01, followed by Japanese N‐118 and Mexican CMCV‐1 strains. Ruptured cells showed higher production of superoxide anion compared to intact cells (e.g., 19 vs. 9.5 pmol · cell^?1 · hr^?1 for CMPL01, respectively). Our results indicate that C. marina is more ichthyotoxic after cell disruption and when switching from dark to light conditions, possibly associated with a higher production of superoxide anion and EPA, which may be quickly oxidized to produce more toxic derivates, such as aldehydes.     

海马齿对无机汞的耐性和吸附积累

报道了海马齿(Sesuvium portulacastrum)对重金属汞的耐性和吸附特性。 在10 μmol·L^-1汞胁迫时, 海马齿中脯氨酸含量明显低于对照; 丙二醛(MDA)含量、根的电解质外渗率(Electrolyte leakage rate, ELR)无明显变化; 叶绿素含量增加; 植物生长良好, 形态、生长速率、鲜重和根的长度与对照无区别, 且有新的须根形成。结果表明: 低浓度汞对海马齿的生长发育起着促进作用。海马齿能大量吸附积累汞离子, 主要积累在根组织中。当培养液中汞浓度为50 μmol·L^-1时, 海马齿根中汞含量最高可达到33.9 μg·g^-1DW, 是相同处理下地上部分的70倍。培养液中汞浓度为10 μmol·L^-1时, 植物并未受到伤害, 且能快速生长, 此时根部的汞含量可达到12.02 μg·g^-1 DW。由此可见, 海马齿植物表现为很强的耐汞和吸收汞特性。     

Fatty acid profiling: its usefulness in the evaluation of microbial associations with the green microalga Apatococcus constipatus

To determine differences in microbial community structures, fatty acids from two strains of the green microalga Apatococcus constipatus were isolated and identified by instrumental means. The main fatty acids found were 16:0 and 14:0. These predominant acids represented more than 53% of the total fatty acid (content in both algal isolates. In addition, saturated fatty acids were present in much greater quantity than unsaturated ones. Differences between the strains in the composition of other, modified fatty acids were also evident. The occurrence of fatty acid biomarkers characteristic of certain taxonomic groups confirmed the presence of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. Those observed variations were undoubtedly due to distinct community structures of symbiotic microorganisms living in close associations with the alga. The results presented here indicate that different isolates of the same alga might exhibit different microbial community structures.     

Modeling of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) production from Phaeodactylum tricornutum cultures in tubular photobioreactors. Effects of dilution rate, tube diameter, and solar irradiance

A model for the prediction of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) productivity from Phaeodactylum tricornutum cultures that takes into account the existence of photolimitation and photoinhibition of growth under outdoor conditions is presented. The effects of the external irradiance on the culture surface, the average irradiance inside the culture, and the light regime at which the cells are exposed on pigments and EPA content are studied. The chlorophyll content decreases exponentially with the average irradiance, whereas the carotenoids content increases linearly with the external irradiance due to a higher extension of photoinhibition. A decrease in the fatty acid content of the biomass with irradiance on reactor surface is observed when photoinhibition becomes relevant. The average irradiance within the culture mainly influenced the fatty acid profile of the biomass. As the average irradiance becomes higher, percentages of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids decrease, increasing the portion of EPA. By taking into account the different relationships among pigment and EPA content with the irradiance, the variation in EPA productivity over the year can be simulated as a function of average and external irradiance. For the two photobioreactors employed the maximum EPA productivity is attained in spring and fall (30 mg L(-1) day(-1) for tube diameter 0. 06 m and 50 mg L(-1) day(-1) for tube diameter 0.03 m). In winter, the biomass productivity is limited by low light availability although the EPA content is maximum. In summer, the biomass productivity is higher although the EPA content diminished by photoinhibition; the higher the dilution rate, the lower the minimum. Thus, the conditions that increase the biomass productivity and the polyunsaturated fatty acids content are in opposition, the optimum being reached by operating under photolimitation with high growth rates in order to produce a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids.