Physiological responses of Hizikia fusiformis (Phaeophyta) to mercury exposure

Xifeng Zhu; Dinghui Zou; Yanhua Huang; Junming Cao; Guangcheng Sheng; Guoxia Wang

doi:10.1515/bot-2014-0068

Article

Physiological responses of Hizikia fusiformis (Phaeophyta) to mercury exposure

Xifeng Zhu
Xifeng Zhu is Assistant Professor of Fisheries at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. He was awarded a MS in Marine Biology by Shantou University. His more recent research has concentrated on algal physiology and animal nutrition and feed science.
, Dinghui Zou
Dinghui Zou is Professor of Marine Biology at the College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology. He was awarded a PhD in Hydrobiology by the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His more recent research has concentrated on algal physiology and applied phycology.
, Yanhua Huang
Yanhua Huang is Professor of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. She was awarded a PhD in Animal Nutrition and Feed Science by South China Agricultural University. Her more recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and feed science.
, Junming Cao
Junming Cao is Professor of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. He was awarded a PhD in Nutritional Physiology and Biochemistry by the University of Burgundy. His more recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and feed science.
, Guangcheng Sheng
Guangcheng Sheng works at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. He was awarded a BS in Aquaculture by Huazhong Agricultural University. His more recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and aquaculture.
and Guoxia Wang
Guoxia Wang is Senior Engineer of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. She was awarded a MS in Animal Nutrition and Feed Science by Huazhong Agricultural University. Her more recent research has concentrated on nutrition and feed of aquatic animal.

Published/Copyright: April 1, 2015

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From the journal Botanica Marina Volume 58 Issue 2

Abstract

Marine coastal ecosystems are suffering from metal pollution such as mercury. Hizikia fusiformis is a commercially important brown marine macroalga. Entire thalli of H. fusiformis were cultured in media with different mercury concentrations for 7 days to examine the physiological effects of mercury exposure on this species. The relative growth rate of H. fusiformis was significantly reduced at 0.04 mg l^-1 mercury. Chlorophyll a and carotenoid contents were not affected by mercury concentrations ≤0.10 mg l^-1, but significantly decreased at 0.20 and 0.40 mg l^-1. Optimal quantum yield, maximum net photosynthetic rate, and apparent photosynthetic efficiency were reduced with increasing mercury concentrations. Malondialdehyde contents were significantly increased at 0.04–0.40 mg l^-1 mercury. Superoxide dismutase activity increased at 0.02–0.10 mg l^-1 mercury. Both superoxide dismutase and catalase activity strongly decreased at 0.20 and 0.40 mg l^-1. Nitrate reductase activity declined at mercury concentrations ≥0.04 mg l^-1. Consequently, the results suggest that H. fusiformis could tolerate mercury stress at very low concentrations but that mercury at high concentrations has toxic effects on H. fusiformis through its negative influence on photosynthesis and related physiology. The results also illuminate the physiological response mechanisms of algae to mercury exposure.

Keywords: antioxidant enzymes; growth; Hizikia fusiformis; mercury; photosynthesis

Corresponding author: Xifeng Zhu, Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, China, e-mail: xfzhu1983@163.com

About the authors

Xifeng Zhu

Xifeng Zhu is Assistant Professor of Fisheries at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. He was awarded a MS in Marine Biology by Shantou University. His more recent research has concentrated on algal physiology and animal nutrition and feed science.

Dinghui Zou

Dinghui Zou is Professor of Marine Biology at the College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology. He was awarded a PhD in Hydrobiology by the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His more recent research has concentrated on algal physiology and applied phycology.

Yanhua Huang

Yanhua Huang is Professor of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. She was awarded a PhD in Animal Nutrition and Feed Science by South China Agricultural University. Her more recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and feed science.

Junming Cao

Junming Cao is Professor of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. He was awarded a PhD in Nutritional Physiology and Biochemistry by the University of Burgundy. His more recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and feed science.

Guangcheng Sheng

Guangcheng Sheng works at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. He was awarded a BS in Aquaculture by Huazhong Agricultural University. His more recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and aquaculture.

Guoxia Wang

Guoxia Wang is Senior Engineer of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. She was awarded a MS in Animal Nutrition and Feed Science by Huazhong Agricultural University. Her more recent research has concentrated on nutrition and feed of aquatic animal.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41276148).

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Received: 2014-10-21

Accepted: 2015-3-5

Published Online: 2015-4-1

Published in Print: 2015-4-1

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/bot-2014-0068

Keywords for this article

antioxidant enzymes; growth; Hizikia fusiformis; mercury; photosynthesis