SpringerLink
Log in

Zinc Tolerance and Zinc Removal Ability of Living and Dried Biomass of Desmodesmus communis

  • Published:
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Effects of zinc on growth, cell morphology, oxidative stress, and zinc removal ability of the common phytoplankton species Desmodesmus communis were investigated at a concentration range of 0.25–160 mg L−1 zinc. Cell densities and chlorophyll content decreased in treated cultures, changes in coenobia morphology and elevated lipid peroxidation levels appeared above 2.5 mg L−1 zinc. The most effective zinc removal was observed at 5 mg L−1 zinc concentration, while maximal amount of removed zinc appeared in 15 mg L−1 zinc treated culture. Removed zinc is mainly bound on the cell surface. Dead biomass adsorbed more zinc than living biomass relative to unit of dry mass, but living biomass was more effective, relative to initial zinc content. This study comprehensively examines the zinc tolerance and removal ability of D. communis and demonstrates, in comparison with published literature, that these characteristics of different isolates of the same species can vary within a wide range.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (France)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bilgrami KS, Kumar S (1997) Effects of copper, lead and zinc on phytoplankton growth. Biol Plant 39(2):315–317

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Broadley MR, White PJ, Hammond JP, Zelko I, Lux A (2007) Zinc in plants. New Phytol 173(4):677–702

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chong AMY, Wong YS, Tam NFY (2000) Performance of different microalgal species in removing nickel and zinc from industrial wastewater. Chemosphere 41:251–257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Felföldy L (1987) A biológiai vízminősítés. 4. kiad. In: Vízügyi Hidrobiológia 16. – VGI, Budapest, 258

  • Güclü Z, Ertan ÖO (2012) Toxicity and removal of zinc in the three species (Acutodesmus obliquus, Desmodesmus subspicatus and Desmodesmus armatus) belonging to the Family, Scenedesmaceae (Chlorophyta). Turkish J Fish Aquat Sci 12:309–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammer Ř, Harper DAT, Ryan PD (2001) PAST: paleontological statistics software package for education and data analysis. Palaeontol Electron 4:9

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassler CS, Behra R, Wilkinson KJ (2005) Impact of zinc acclimation on bioaccumulation and homeostasis in Chlorella kesslerii. Aquat Toxicol 74:139–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler E, Schäfer M, Hümmer C, Kloboucek A, Huss VAR (1997) Physiological, biochemical, and molecular characters for the taxonomy of the subgenera of Scenedesmus (Chlorococcales, Chlorophyta). Bot Acta 110(3):244–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krienitz L, Bock C (2012) Present state of the systematics of planktonic coccoid green algae of inland waters. Hydrobiologia 698:295–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monteiro CM, Marques AP, Castro PM, Malcata FX (2009) Characterization of Desmodesmus pleiomorphus isolated from a heavy metal-contaminated site: biosorption of zinc. Biodegradation 20(5):629–641

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monteiro CM, Castro PML, Malcata FX (2011a) Capacity of simultaneous removal of zinc and cadmium from contaminated media, by two microalgae isolated from a polluted site. Environ Chem Lett 9:511–517

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monteiro CM, Fonseca SC, Castro PML, Malcata FX (2011b) Toxicity of cadmium and zinc on two microalgae, Scenedesmus obliquus and Desmodesmus pleiomorphus, from Northern Portugal. J Appl Phycol 23:97–103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monteiro CM, Castro PML, Malcata FX (2011c) Biosorption of zinc ions from aqueous solution by the microalga Scenedesmus obliquus. Environ Chem Lett 9:169–176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Omar HH (2002a) Bioremoval of zinc ions by Scenedesmus obliquus and Scenedesmus quadricauda and its effect on growth and metabolism. Int Biodeter Biodegr 50:95–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Omar HH (2002b) Adsorption of zinc ions by Scenedesmus obliquus and S. quadricauda and its effect on growth and metabolism. Biol Plant 45(2):261–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Radway JC, Wilde EW, Whitaker MJ, Weissman JC (2001) Screening of algal strains for metal removal capabilities. J Appl Phycol 13(5):451–455

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rojíčková-Padrtová R, Maršálek B (1999) Selection and sensitivity comparisons of algal species for toxicity testing. Chemosphere 38(14):3329–3338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romera E, González F, Ballester A, Blázquez ML, Muñoz JA (2006) Biosorption with algae: a statistical review. Crit Rev Biotechnol 26(4):223–235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Starodub ME, Wong PTS (1987) Short term and long term studies on individual and combined toxicities of copper, zinc and lead to Scenedesmus quadricauda. Sci Total Environ 63:101–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Travieso L, Cañizares RO, Borja R, Benítez F, Domínguez AR, Dupeyrón R, Valiente V (1999) Heavy metal removal by microalgae. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 62(2):144–151

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tripathi BN, Gaur JP (2004) Relationship between copper- and zinc-induced oxidative stress and proline accumulation in Scenedesmus sp. Planta 219:397–404

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tripathi BN, Gaur JP (2006) Physiological behavior of Scenedesmus sp. during exposure to elevated levels of Cu and Zn and after withdrawal of metal stress. Protoplasma 229:1–9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Umisová D, Vìtovà M, Douskovà I, Bisovà K, Hlavovà M, Cizkovà M, Machàt J, Doucha J, Zachleder V (2009) Bioaccumulation and toxicity of selenium compounds in the green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda. BMC Plant Biol 9:58–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verma S, Dubey RS (2003) Lead toxicity induces lipid peroxidation and alters the activities of antioxidant enzymes in growing rice plants. Plant Sci 164(4):645–655

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Visviki I, Rachlin JW (1991) The toxic action and interactions of copper and cadmium to the marine alga Dunaliella minuta, in both acute and chronic exposure. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 20:271–275

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Volesky B (1990) Removal and recovery of heavy metals by biosorption. In: Volesky B (ed) Biosorption of heavy metals, 1st edn. CRC Press, USA Boston, pp 7–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Wase J, Forster CF (2003) Biosorbents for metal ions. Taylor & Francis e-Library, UK London

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong MH, Kwan SH, Tam FY (1979) Comparative toxicity of manganese and zinc on Chlorella pyreonidosa, Chlorella salina and Scenedesmus quadricauda. Microbios Lett 12:37–46

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (1996) Biostatistical analysis, 3rd edn. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou GJ, Peng FQ, Zhang LJ, Ying GG (2012) Biosorption of zinc and copper from aqueous solutions by two freshwater green microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus obliquus. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19(7):2918–2929

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research was supported by the EU and co-financed by the European Social Fund under the project ENVIKUT (TÁMOP-4.2.2.A-11/1/KONV-2012-0043), by the Internal Research Project of the University of Debrecen and by the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydrobiology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary

    Zoltán Novák, Sándor Alex Nagy & István Bácsi

  2. Environmental Protection and Nature Conservation Authority, Trans-Tisza Region, Hatvan u. 16, Debrecen, 4025, Hungary

    Mihály Jánószky & Viktória B-Béres

Authors
  1. Zoltán Novák
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mihály Jánószky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Viktória B-Béres
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sándor Alex Nagy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. István Bácsi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to István Bácsi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Novák, Z., Jánószky, M., B-Béres, V. et al. Zinc Tolerance and Zinc Removal Ability of Living and Dried Biomass of Desmodesmus communis . Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 93, 676–682 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1374-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1374-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation