Herbicide effects on the population growth of some green algae and cyanobacteria

Six herbicides were tested for their effects on the population growth of a range of green algae and cyanobacteria by an easily replicated low-volume liquid culture technique using Repli-dishes. Diuron, propanil and atrazine were most inhibitory, chlorpropham was intermediate and MCPA and glyphosate were least inhibitory. Chlorpropham was more inhibitory to green algae than to cyanobacteria. The effects of chlorpropham and 3-chloroaniline, a metabolite, on populations of the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans and the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardii were monitored in larger scale batch cultures. Both compounds reduced the growth rate although in some cases there was partial recovery. 3-Chloroaniline was less inhibitory than the parent herbicide chlorpropham.     

Nitrifying bacterial growth inhibition in the presence of algae and cyanobacteria

Nitrifying bacteria, cyanobacteria, and algae are important microorganisms in open pond wastewater treatment systems. Nitrification involving the sequential oxidation of ammonia to nitrite and nitrate, mainly due to autotrophic nitrifying bacteria, is essential to biological nitrogen removal in wastewater and global nitrogen cycling. A continuous flow autotrophic bioreactor was initially designed for nitrifying bacterial growth only. In the presence of cyanobacteria and algae, we monitored both the microbial activity by measuring specific oxygen production rate (SOPR) for microalgae and cyanobacteria and specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR) for nitrifying bacteria. The growth of cyanobacteria and algae inhibited the maximum nitrification rate by a factor of 4 although the ammonium nitrogen fed to the reactor was almost completely removed. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T‐RFLP) analysis indicated that the community structures of nitrifying bacteria remained unchanged, containing the dominant Nitrosospira, Nitrospira, and Nitrobacter species. PCR amplification coupled with cloning and sequencing analysis resulted in identifying Chlorella emersonii and an uncultured cyanobacterium as the dominant species in the autotrophic bioreactor. Notwithstanding their fast growth rate and their toxicity to nitrifiers, microalgae and cyanobacteria were more easily lost in effluent than nitrifying bacteria because of their poor settling characteristics. The microorganisms were able to grow together in the bioreactor with constant individual biomass fractions because of the uncoupled solids retention times for algae/cyanobacteria and nitrifiers. The results indicate that compared to conventional wastewater treatment systems, longer solids retention times (e.g., by a factor of 4) should be considered in phototrophic bioreactors for complete nitrification and nitrogen removal. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;107: 1004–1011. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

兰州五泉山的藻类及其分布

以兰州五泉山为该地藻种资源库,对其中水生、陆生生境中藻类的种类多样性、群落结构、分布特点进行了研究。结果发现该地藻类植物65种(含4变种),包括蓝藻、绿藻、硅藻和红藻,其中硅藻种类最多(29种),其它依次为蓝藻(24种)、绿藻(11种)和红藻(1种)。水体中共42种,硅藻最多,有26种,其次蓝藻8种,绿藻7种,红藻1种,不同水体中优势种和亚优势种不同。土壤生境中发现20种,蓝藻13种,绿藻4种,硅藻3种,且非洲席藻和小球藻分为优势种和亚优势种。7个种类在水、陆两大生境都有分布,而且它们主要是丝状蓝藻。     

食物种类对萼花臂尾轮虫种群增长率的影响

在短期慢性观测过程中,食物类型可能是造成萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionuscalyciflorus)种群繁殖率变化的一种原因。共观测了分别单独投喂10种不同绿藻对轮虫种群增长率的影响。为验证藻青菌是藻类饵料(如绿藻Scenedesmus)有价值的佐剂这一假说,还用蓝细菌单独投喂或与斜生栅藻(Scenedesmusobliquus)混合投喂轮虫进行实验观测。结果发现食物种类对萼花臂尾轮虫种群增长率影响显著。斜生栅藻组获得最大种群增长(1.6/d),而Desmodesmus组增长率最低(0.3/d)。以占斜生栅藻组最大增长的百分率来表示,其它几种绿藻组种群增长由高到低依次为:Desmodesmussubspicatus88%,小球藻(Chlorellavulgaris)83%,单壳缝藻(Monoraphidiumminutum)77%,D.quadricauda74%,S.falcatus71%,S.acuminatus69%,S.pectinatus64%,莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonasreinhardtii)57%,D.abundans19%。轮虫增长率的差异不能用藻类饵料的大小差异来解释。蓝细菌(Microcystisaeruginosa)和(Synechococcuselongates)不论是单独投喂还是与优良藻类饵料(斜生栅藻)混合投喂都对萼花臂尾轮虫种群增长有抑制作用。这种副作用似乎与微囊藻素无关。该结果不支持无毒蓝细菌可作为与其他绿藻饵料配合使用的优良佐剂这一假说。本研究所观察到的生长变化显示了饵料种类对萼花臂尾轮虫种群增长的影响,也预示了对毒性实验结果的影响     

Identification and quantification of suspended algae and bacteria populations using flow cytometry: applications for algae biofuel and biochemical growth systems

Species diversity in algae biofuel and biochemical culturing systems can affect yield; in many large-scale algae growth systems, it is not practical to maintain a monoculture. To better understand and monitor these complex systems, techniques are required which can quickly and effectively quantify the species distribution and overall growth of a mixed microbial community in suspension. A flow cytometric method has been developed which can be used to differentiate populations of three Chlorophyta species, one diatom species, cyanobacteria, and heterotrophic bacteria according to their fluorescence and morphology. The nucleic acid stain SYTO9 was used to discriminate species with similar natural autofluorescence and to identify heterotrophic bacteria. Absolute cell enumeration was performed with counting beads and validated with a hemocytometer. Species identification was validated by analyzing known mixtures of axenic cell cultures. The utility of the method was demonstrated by studying the effect of light intensity on species succession, growth, and biomass accumulation in small algae growth systems over 22 days. Flow cytometric analysis, augmented with SYTO9 stain and counting beads, can be utilized to monitor algae biofuel and biochemical growth systems involving multiple species. This method allows for monitoring of contamination, succession, and overall growth in both natural and intentionally created microbial communities.     

Peculiarities of growth of the monocellular green algae culture after the influence of electromagnetic field in deuterated water-containing media

Exposing the inoculum of monocellular green algae Dunaliella tertiolecta and Tetraselmis viridis to 50 Hz electromagnetic field for several hours resulted in a reduced growth rate in both cultures. It was ascertained that heavy water inhibited growth of algae Dunaliella tertiolecta. The light water activated growth of the culture in the exponential phase only.     

Effects of diatom mucilage on the growth and Morphology of marine algae

Germination and growth patterns were studied of germlings and sporelings of eight species of marine algae when grown on diatom mucilage. Whilst growths of green and brown algae were enhanced, growth of the red algae was inhibited. Morphologically abnormal sporelings of Ulva lactuca L. and Gigartina stellata (Stackh.) Batt. were obtained in the presence of the mucilage.     

Effects of different molecular weight fractions of dissolved organic matter on the growth of bacteria,algae and protozoa from a highly humic lake

Effects of different molecular size fractions (< 1000 MW, < 10 000 MW, < 100 000 MW and <0.1 μm) of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the growth of bacteria, algae and protozoa from a highly humic lake were investigated. DOM from catchment drainage water as well as from the lake consisted mostly (59–63%) of high molecular weight (HMW) compounds (> 10 000 MW). With excess inorganic nutrients, the growth rate and yield of bacteria were almost identical in all size fractions. However, in < 1000 MW fractions and with glucose added, a longer lag phase occurred. Without added nutrients both the growth rates and biomasses of bacteria decreased towards the smaller size fractions and the percentage of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) used during the experiment and the growth efficiency of bacteria were lower than with excess nutrients. The growth efficiency of bacteria was estimated to vary between 3–66% in different MW fractions, largely depending on the nutrient concentrations, but the highest growth efficiencies were observed in HMW fractions and with glucose. The growth of algae was clearly lowest in the < 1000 MW fraction. In dim light no net growth of algae could be found. In contrast, added nutrients substantially enhanced algal growth and in deionized water with glucose, algae achieved almost the same growth rate and biomass as in higher MW fractions of DOM. The results suggested that bacteria and some algae were favoured by DOM, but protozoans seemed to benefit only indirectly, through bacterial grazing. The utilization of DOM by bacteria and algae was strongly affected by the availability of phosphorus and nitrogen.     

Cyanolichens can have both cyanobacteria and green algae in a common layer as major contributors to photosynthesis

Background and Aims

Cyanolichens are usually stated to be bipartite (mycobiont plus cyanobacterial photobiont). Analyses revealed green algal carbohydrates in supposedly cyanobacterial lichens (in the genera Pseudocyphellaria, Sticta and Peltigera). Investigations were carried out to determine if both cyanobacteria and green algae were present in these lichens and, if so, what were their roles.

Methods

The types of photobiont present were determined by light and fluorescence microscopy. Small carbohydrates were analysed to detect the presence of green algal metabolites. Thalli were treated with selected strengths of Zn²⁺ solutions that stop cyanobacterial but not green algal photosynthesis. CO₂ exchange was measured before and after treatment to determine the contribution of each photobiont to total thallus photosynthesis. Heterocyst frequencies were determined to clarify whether the cyanobacteria were modified for increased nitrogen fixation (high heterocyst frequencies) or were normal, vegetative cells.

Key Results

Several cyanobacterial lichens had green algae present in the photosynthetic layer of the thallus. The presence of the green algal transfer carbohydrate (ribitol) and the incomplete inhibition of thallus photosynthesis upon treatment with Zn²⁺ solutions showed that both photobionts contributed to the photosynthesis of the lichen thallus. Low heterocyst frequencies showed that, despite the presence of adjacent green algae, the cyanobacteria were not altered to increase nitrogen fixation.

Conclusions

These cyanobacterial lichens are a tripartite lichen symbiont combination in which the mycobiont has two primarily photosynthetic photobionts, ‘co-primary photobionts’, a cyanobacterium (dominant) and a green alga. This demonstrates high flexibility in photobiont choice by the mycobiont in the Peltigerales. Overall thallus appearance does not change whether one or two photobionts are present in the cyanobacterial thallus. This suggests that, if there is a photobiont effect on thallus structure, it is not specific to one or the other photobiont.     

Effects of essential fatty acids and N and P-limited algae on the growth rate of tropical cladocerans

SUMMARY 1. In this study, the effects of nutrient (N and P) deficiency and the importance of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) [eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] to tropical cladocerans, growth and reproduction were determined in a growth bioassay.
2. The animals were fed N/P-sufficient, N-deficient and P-deficient algae, and also N and P-deficient algae supplemented with fish oil emulsions rich in EPA and DHA.
3. Cladocerans showed different responses to nutrient-deficient algae and also to supplements of fish oil emulsions. Moina micrura was most sensitive to P-deficient alga and, surprisingly, grew better and produced more eggs in N-deficient alga than in N/P sufficient alga. Ceriodaphnia cornuta was less sensitive, growing well in both N and P-deficient algae. This species, however, had a lower clutch size in N-deficient alga. On the other hand, Daphnia gessneri was the most sensitive to mineral limitation, showing decreased growth and clutch size in both nutrient-deficient algae.
4. The PUFA supplements to nutrient-deficient algae increased growth rates only for M. micrura and C. cornuta , suggesting that these fatty acids are important food requirements for these species.     

Growth ofLegionella pneumophila in two-membered cultures with green algae and cyanobacteria

Environmental and clinical isolates ofLegionella pneumophila were grown in minimal-salts media (no organic compounds added) in associated with various green algae and cyanobacteria. Growth was observed to level off after a period of hours to days with no subsequent significant loss in the numbers of viableL. pneumophila even several days after growth had ceased. Transfer to new algal or cyanobacterial cultures resulted in a new burst of growty by theL. pneumophila.     

Differential sensitivity of green algae to allelopathic substances from Chara

Three short-term laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate allelopathic effects of a mixture of Chara globularis var. globularis Thuillier and Chara contraria var. contraria A. Braun ex Kützing on three different green algae. Single phytoplankton species were exposed to filtered water originating from charophyte cultures. Phytoplankton growth was monitored by determination of chlorophyll concentrations in batch cultures. The change in chlorophyll concentration during the experiments was analysed with a logistic growth model, resulting in an estimate of the exponential growth rate and the duration of the lag phase of the single green algae. The results indicate allelopathic effects of Chara on the growth of the green algae Selenastrum capricornutum Printz and Chlorella minutissima Fott et Nováková, whereas Scenedesmus obliquus (Turpin) Kützing did not seem to be affected. The exponential growth rate of S. capricornutum decreased 7% in the presence of water from a charophyte culture, while the growth rate of C. minutissima decreased with 3%. The allelopathic effect of Chara did not increase when the green alga C. minutissima was P-limited. The effect of Chara was different when young sprouts were used. With young sprouts the duration of the lag phase of C. minutissima was extended (25%), whilst for old plants the growth rate of this green alga decreased. Although the inhibiting effect of charophytes on specific phytoplankton species is rather small, the differential sensitivity of the species to Chara might influence the composition and biomass of phytoplankton communities in the field.     

Effect of inclusion of blue-green algae meal on growth and accumulation of microcystins in gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

Six isonitrogenous (crude protein content: 38%) and isoenergetic (gross energy content: 17 kJ g^?1) diets were formulated to investigate the effects of inclusion of blue‐green algae meal on gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). In each diet, 15% of the protein was supplied by fishmeal; the remainder was supplied by soybean meal and blue‐green algae meal. Diet 1 was used as control with no blue‐green algae meal whereas the content in diets 2–6 was 15.15, 29.79, 44.69, 59.58 and 74.48%, respectively. Each diet was fed to five groups of gibel carp for 12 weeks in a flow‐through system. Final body weight and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed diet 5 were significantly lower than the control diet (P < 0.05). Mortality of gibel carp increased with increase in algae meal inclusion (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between fish fed diets 3–6 (P > 0.05). Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) decreased with the increase in algae meal inclusion (P < 0.05). Fish‐fed diet 6 showed the highest feeding rate (P < 0.05), while there were no significant differences among the other groups (P > 0.05). Apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter, protein, and energy decreased with increasing algae meal inclusion in the diets (P < 0.05). Aspartate aminotransferase (GOT) activity in the liver was not significantly different among groups (P > 0.05). Liver alanine aminotransferase (GPT) activity of fish‐fed diets 4, 5 and 6 was significantly lower than the control diet (diet 1; P < 0.05). Microcystins in the muscle, liver, gallbladder, and spleen increased with increasing algae inclusion (P < 0.05).     

磷对藻类生长及污水净化的影响

在室内模拟氧化槽中比较研究了污水中不同磷含量及氮磷比例对藻类生长及污水净化的影响。原污水中氮含量均为20mg/L,磷含量分别为1.25、2.50、5、10mg/L,结果发现原污水中的N/P为20/2.5时,藻类净生产量最高,污水净化效果最好。     

Acclimation of green algae to sulfur deficiency: underlying mechanisms and application for hydrogen production

Hydrogen is definitely one of the most acceptable fuels in the future. Some photosynthetic microorganisms, such as green algae and cyanobacteria, can produce hydrogen gas from water by using solar energy. In green algae, hydrogen evolution is coupled to the photosynthetic electron transport in thylakoid membranes via reaction catalyzed by the specific enzyme, (FeFe)-hydrogenase. However, this enzyme is highly sensitive to oxygen and can be quickly inhibited when water splitting is active. A problem of incompatibility between the water splitting and hydrogenase reaction can be overcome by depletion of algal cells of sulfur which is essential element for life. In this review the mechanisms underlying sustained hydrogen photoproduction in sulfur deprived C. reinhardtii and the recent achievements in studying of this process are discussed. The attention is focused on the biophysical and physiological aspects of photosynthetic response to sulfur deficiency in green algae.     

A green Paramecium strain with abnormal growth of symbiotic algae

Some hundred cells of Chlorella-like green algae are naturally enclosed within the cytoplasm of a single cell of green paramecia (Paramecium bursaria). Therefore, P. bursaria serves as an experimental model for studying the nature of endo-symbiosis made up through chemical communication between the symbiotic partners. For studying the mechanism of symbiotic regulations, the materials showing successful symbiosis are widely used. Apart from such successful model materials, some models for symbiotic distortion would be of great interest in order to understand the nature of successful symbiosis. Here, we describe a case of unsuccessful symbiosis causing unregulated growth of algae inside the hosting ciliates. Recently, we have screened some cell lines, from the mass of P. bursaria cells survived after paraquat treatment. The resultant cell lines (designated as KMZ series) show novel and unusual morphological features with heavily darker green colour distinguishable from the original pale green-coloured paramecia. In this type of isolates, endo-symbiotic algae are restricted within one or two dense spherical structures located at the center of the host cells' cytoplasm. Interestingly, this isolate maintains the host cells' circadian mating response which is known as an alga-dependent behaviour in the host cells. In contrast, we discuss that KMZ lacks the host-dependent regulation of algal growth, thus the algal complex often over-grows obviously exceeding the original size of the normal hosting ciliates. Additionally, possible use of this isolate as a novel model for symbiotic cell-to-cell communication is discussed.     

Formation of biomass,total protein,chlorophylls, lipids and fatty acids in green and blue-green algae during one growth phase.

Batch cultures (8–32 l.) of Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus and of Anacystis nidulans and Microcystis aeruginosa were grown in media containing 0.001 % KNO₃ and at several stages in growth sampled for biomass, total protein, chlorophylls, lipids and fatty acids. With increasing time and decreasing nitrogen concentrations, the biomass of all of the algae increased, whereas the total protein and chlorophyll content dropped. Green and blue-green algae, however, behaved differently in their lipid metabolism. In the green algae the total lipid and fatty acid content as well as the composition of these compounds changed considerably during one growth phase and was dependent on the nitrogen concentration in the media at any given day of growth. More specifically, during the initial stages of growth the green algae produced larger amounts of polar lipids and polyunsaturated C₁₆ and C₁₈ fatty acids. Towards the end of growth, however, these patterns changed in that the main lipids of the green algae were neutral with mainly saturated fatty acids (mostly 18:1 and 16:0). Such changes did not occur in the blue-green algae. These differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic algae can possibly be explained by the ‘endosymbiont theory’.     

Meteorological factors affecting the diversity of airborne algae in an urban atmosphere

Aeroalgal sampling of Varanasi City, India, was done using a Tilak Rotorod sampler and exposing agarised Bold basal medium Petri plates during March 2003 to February 2005. Amongst the 34 airborne algal genera recorded, cyanobacteria dominated the aero-algal flora, followed by green algae and diatoms. The generic diversity of airborne algae as well as the constituting groups exhibited seasonal variation. The most favored period for the appearance of cyanobacteria in the air was summer, while winter favored green algae. Presence of diatoms was almost uniform throughout the year. The presence of algal particles in the air depended upon the abundance and dynamics of algal source and their release and dispersal in the atmosphere. Best model selection with Akaike information criteria indicated temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, wind velocity as the most important climatic factors determining algal diversity. These factors exert their effect both directly by influencing entrainment and dispersal of algae from the source, and indirectly by regulating the dynamics of the possible algal source (soil, water, plant body, wall and roof of the building) by supporting or inhibiting the algal growth. In a closed environment and at low altitude sampling site characteristic is also an important factor. Open area near to the countryside had maximal aero-algal diversity.     

Utilization of sulfonic acids as the only sulfur source for growth of photosynthetic organisms

Growth on ethanesulfonic acid as the only sulfur source was found to occur in ten of the 14 green algae tested and in three of the ten cyanobacteria analyzed. Similar growth could not be demonstrated in the higher plant Lemna minor, or in tissue cultures of anise, sunflower and tobacco. Organisms growing on sulfonic acids as the only sulfur source developed an uptake system for ethanesulfonate found neither in algae growing on sulfate nor in algae unable to utilize sulfonic acids for growth. The development of sulfonate transport was not caused by substrate induction, but by conditions of sulfate starvation. The presence of this uptake system was always correlated with an increased sulfate-uptake capacity. Enhanced sulfate uptake was found in all S-deficient and sulfonate-grown cultures tested, indicating sulfate limitation as the regulatory signal. A lag period of 2–2.5 h after transfer to sulfate deprivation was needed for expression of both enhanced sulfate uptake and ethanesulfonate uptake in case of the green alga Chlorella fusca. It is speculated that the availability of sulfate (pool size) or a metabolic product in equilibrium with oxidized sulfur compounds (sulfate ester? sulfolipids?) controls sulfate and sulfonate uptake systems. The principle of (coordinated) derepression by starvation is discussed as a general strategy in photosynthetic organisms.     

Effect of inhibitors on calcium carbonate deposition mediated by freshwater algae

Nine green algae, a diatom and three cyanobacteria were shown to precipitate CaCO₃ in batch culture, when grown in the light in a hard water medium containing 68 mg L⁻¹ soluble calcium. The composition of the medium was based on that found in a natural hardwater marina where precipitation of CaCO₃ within algal biofilms occurred. Deposition occurred as a direct result of photosynthesis which caused an increase in the pH of the medium. Once a critical pH had been reached, typically approximately pH 9.0, precipitation began evidenced by a fall in the concentration of soluble calcium in the medium. Certain characteristics of the precipitation process displayed by the diatom Navicula sp. were different to those of the other algae. All algae produced extracellular crystals of irregular morphology. Using a standardized protocol employing the green algae Chlorococcum sp. and Stigeoclonium variabile, the effects of various inhibitors of CaCO₃ nucleation or growth of crystals were studied. Fifteen compounds were screened and assessed for their performance in this context. Most materials effectively delayed deposition of CaCO₃, many decreased precipitation rates and all had a marked effect on crystal morphology. The most effective compound was HEDP (1-hydroxyethylene 1,1 diphosphonic acid), which inhibited precipitation completely at a concentration of 2.5 mg L⁻¹ The use of such compounds to reduce the precipitation of calcium salts within algal biofilms in natural hard waters is discussed.