Abstract
Inhibition of photosynthesis and cell division by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was studied using 7 marine phytoplankton species representing 4 algal classes. PCB concentrations as low as 1.0 μg l-1 reduced cell division of Thalassiosira pseudonana 3H and Isochrysis galbana. Both photosynthesis and cell division of T. pseudonana 3H, Chaetoceros socialis, Skeletonema costatum, T. pseudonana 13-1, Monochrysis, lutheri and I. galbana were inhibited at a PCB concentration of 10.0 μg l-1. The effects on photosynthesis were immediate and probably resulted in reduced rates of cell division. Interspecific differences in susceptibility were observed. These differences have significance with respect to primary production and the species composition of phytoplankton communities. The initial slopes of photosynthesis-irradiance (P-I) curves for the diatoms S. costatum and T. pseudonana 3H were reduced in the presence of PCBs. These results suggest that PCBs affect the photosynthetic light reactions.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Bidleman, T.F. and C.E. Olney: Chlorinated hydrocarbons in the Sargasso Sea atmosphere and surface water. Science, N.Y. 183, 516–518 (1974)
Bowes, G.W.: Uptake and metabolism of 2,2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)-1, 1,1-trichloroethane (DDT) by marine phytoplankton and its effect on chloroplast electron transport. Pl. Physiol., Lancaster 49, 172–176 (1972)
— and R.W. Gee: Inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport by DDT and DDE. J. Bioenergetics 2, 47–60 (1971)
Carpenter, E.J. and R.R.L. Guillard: Intraspecific differences in nitrate half-saturation constants for three species of marine phytoplankton. Ecology 52, 183–185 (1971)
Cox, J.L.: DDT residues in marine phytoplankton. Residue Rev. 44, 23–38 (1972)
Duce, R.A., J.G. Quinn, C.E. Olney, S.R. Piotrowicz, B.J. Ray and T.L. Wade: Enrichment of heavy metals and organic compounds in the surface microlayer of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Science, N.Y. 176, 161–163 (1972)
Duke, T.W., J.I. Lowe and A.J. Wilson, Jr.: A polychlorinated biphenyl (Aroclor 1254®) in the water, sediment and biota of Escambia Bay, Florida. Bull. envir. Contam. Toxicol. 5, 171–180 (1970)
Eppley, R.W., R.W. Holmes and J.D.H. Strickland: Sinking rates of marine phytoplankton measured with a fluorometer. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 1, 191–208 (1967)
— J.N. Rogers and J.J. McCarthy: Half-saturation constants for uptake of nitrate and ammonium by marine phytoplankton. Limnol. Oceanogr. 14, 912–920 (1969)
— and W.H. Thomas: Comparison of half-saturation constants for growth and nitrate uptake of marine phytoplankton. J. Phycol. 5, 375–379 (1969)
Fisher, N.S.: Chlorinated hydrocarbon pollutants and photosynthesis: a reassessment. Science, N.Y. 189, 463–464 (1975)
— E.J. Carpenter, C.C. Remsen and C.F. Wurster: Effects of PCB on interspecific competition in natural and gnotobiotic phytoplankton communities in continuous and batch cultures. Microb. Ecol. 1, 39–50 (1974)
— L.B. Graham, E.J. Carpenter and C.F. Wurster: Geographic differences in phytoplankton sensitivity to PCB's. Nature, Lond. 241, 548–549 (1973)
— and C.F. Wurster: Individual and combined effects of temperature and polychlorinated biphenyls on the growth of three species of phytoplankton. Envir. Pollut. 5 205–212 (1973)
Guillard, R.R.L., P. Kilham and T.A. Jackson: Kinetics of silicon-limited growth in the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana Hasle and Heimdahl (=Cyclotella nana Hustedt). J. Phycol. 9, 233–237 (1973)
Hammond, P.B., I.C.T. Nisbet, A.F. Sarofim, W.H. Drury, N. Nelson and D.P. Rall: PCB's-environmental impact. Envir. Res. 5, 249–362 (1972)
Harding, L.W., Jr.: Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) inhibition of marine phytoplankton photosynthesis in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Bull. envir. Contam. Toxicol. 16, 559–566 (1976)
— and J.H. Phillips, Jr. Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) uptake by marine phytoplankton. Mar. Biol. 49, 103–111 (1978)
Harding, L.W., Jr.: J.H. Phillips, Jr: The transfer of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from microparticulates to marine phytoplankton. Science, N.Y. (In press)
Harding, L.W., Jr.: J.H. Phillips, Jr.: The effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence properties in marine phytoplankton. (In preparation)
Harvey, G.R., W.G. Steinhauer and H.P., Miklas: Decline of PCB concentrations in North Atlantic surface water. Nature, Lond. 252, 387–388 (1974)
—— and J.M. Teal: Polychlorobiphenyls in North Atlantic Ocean water. Science, N.Y. 180, 643–644 (1973)
Interdepartmental Task Force on PCBs: Polychlorinated biphenyls and the environment, 189 pp. Springfield, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce 1972
Jensen, S., A.G. Johnels, M. Olsson and G. Otterlind: DDT and PCB in marine animals from Swedish waters. Nature, Lond. 224, 247–250 (1969)
Keil, J.E., L.E. Priester and S.H. Sandifer: Polychlorinated biphenyl (Aroclor® 1242): effects of uptake on growth, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll of a marine diatom. Bull. envir. Contam. Toxicol. 6, 156–159 (1971)
Lawler, P.D. and L.J. Rogers: Effect of DDT on photosynthesis in certain varieties of barley. Nature, Lond. 215, 1515–1516 (1967)
Lee, S.S., S.C. Fang and V.H. Freed: Effect of DDT on photosynthesis of Selanastrum capricormutum. Pestic. Biochem. Physiol. 6, 46–51 (1976)
Litchfield, J.T., Jr., and F. Wilcoxin: A simplified method of evaluating dose-effect experiments. J. Pharmac. exp. Ther. 96, 99–108 (1949)
MacFarlane, R.B., W.A. Glooschenko and R.C.Harriss: The interaction of light intensity and DDT concentration upon the marine diatom Nitzschia delicatissima Cleve. Hydrobiologia 39, 373–382 (1972)
Menzel, D.W., J. Anderson and A. Randtke: Marine phytoplankton vary in their response to chlorinated hydrocarbons. Science, N.Y. 167, 1724–1726 (1970)
Moore, S.A. Jr. and R.C. Harriss: Effects of polychlorinated biphenyl on marine phytoplankton communities. Nature, Lond. 240 356–358 (1972)
——: Differential sensitivity to PCB by phytoplankton. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 5, 174–176 (1974)
Mosser, J.L., N.S. Fisher, T.-C. Teng and C.F. Wurster: Polychlorinated biphenyls: toxicity to certain phytoplankters. Science, N.Y. 175, 191–192 (1972a)
—— and C.F. Wurster Polychlorinated, biphenyls and DDT alter species composition in mixed culture of algae. Science, N.Y. 176, 533–535 (1972b)
Mullin, M.M., P.R. Sloan and R.W. Eppley: Relationship between carbon content, cell volume, and area in phytoplankton. Limnol. Oceanogr. 11, 307–311 (1966)
Parsons, T.R. and M. Takahashi: Biological oceanographic processes, 186 pp. Oxford, U.K.: Pergamon Press Ltd. 1973
Pavlou, S.P., R.N. Dexter and J.R. Clayton, Jr.: Chlorinated hydrocarbons in coastal marine ecosystems. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Transport of Persistent Chemicals in Aquatic Ecosystems, May 1–3, 1974, pp II-31–35. Ed. by G.N. Lattan. Ottawa, Canada:National Research Council of Canada 1974
Peakall, D.B. and J.L. Lincer: Polychlorinated biphenyls—another long-life widespread chemical in the environment. BioSci. 20, 958–964 (1970)
Raymont, J.E.G.: Plankton, and productivity in the oceans, 660 pp. Oxford, U.K.: Pergamon Press Ltd. 1963
Risebrough, R.W.: Chlorinated hydrocarbons in marine ecosystems. In: Chemical fallout, pp 5–23. Ed. by M.W. Miller and G.G. Berg. Springfield, Ill.: C.C. Thomas 1969
— P. Reiche, D.B. Peakall, S.G. Herman and M.N. Kirven: Polychlorinated biphenyls in the global ecosystem. Nature, Lond. 220, 1098–1102 (1968)
Seba, D.B. and E.F. Corcoran: Surface slicks as concentrators of pesticides in the marine environment. Pestic. Monit. J. 3, 190–193 (1969)
Snedecor, G.W. and W.G. Cochran: Statistical methods, 593 pp. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press 1967
Sokal, R.R. and J.F. Rohlf: Biometry. The principles and practice of statistics in biological research, 776 pp. San Francisco, California: W.H. Freeman & Co. 1969
Steeman Nielsen, E.: The use of radioactive carbon (14C) for measuring organic production in the sea. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer. 18, 117–140 (1952)
—: Marine photosynthesis with special emphasis on the ecological aspects, 141 pp. Amsterdam: Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co. 1975
Strathman, R.R.: Estimating the organic carbon content of phytoplankton from cell volume or plasma volume. Limnol. Oceanogr. 12, 411–418 (1967)
Strickland, J.D.H. and T.R. Parsons: A practical handbook of seawater analysis. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 167, 1–311 (1968)
Talling, J.F.: The growth of two plankton diatoms in mixed cultures. Physiologia Pl. 10, 215–223 (1957)
Williams, P.M. and K. J. Robertson: Chlorinated hydrocarbons in sea-surface films and subsurface waters at nearshore stations in the North Central Pacific Gyre. Fish. Bull. U.S. 73, 445–447 (1975)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J. M. Lawrence, Tampa
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Harding, L.W., Phillips, J.H. Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) effects on marine phytoplankton photosynthesis and cell division. Mar. Biol. 49, 93–101 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387108
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387108