The microalga Tetraselmis chuii (Chlorophyceae) in ecotoxicology: Culture conditions and growth model

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2008

Authors

nunes, b (Author) Other; cardoso, mf (Author) ICBAS; carvalho, f (Author) FFUP; guilhermino, l (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Fresenius Environmental Bulletin

Vol. 17

Pages: 408-414

ISSN: 1018-4619

Publisher: Technische Universitat Munchen

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 2 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-39F

Abstract (EN): Microalgae are suitable organisms to perform ecotoxicological tests, due to their reduced size, large abundance of species naturally adapted to varied environmental conditions, simple handling conditions, high rates of division, versatility and applicability under diverse test conditions, large availability, ecological relevance, and sensitivity following exposure to several chemical agents. Tetraselmis chuii is a marine species, which is easily cultured in the laboratory, being suitable for use in toxicity tests. The main objectives of this work were to choose the most adequate culturing, conditions of this species for use in toxicity assays and to adjust a mathematical model to the growth of T chuii in standard conditions. Out of three models, Richards, Logistic and Gompertz models, the Gompertz one was found to be the most suitable to fit the growth of T chuii under the experimental conditions used. Based on this model, the following parameters describe the sigmoid growth curve: environment carrying capacity, 214 cells/ml; maximum intrinsic rate, 0.26 days(-1); time when growth reached its maximum, day 6.5; and maximum sustainable harvest, 20.5 cells.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7