ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Studies on Toxicity and Bioaccumulation of Cu2+
in Alga Scenedesmus obliquus and Its Effect
on Life Table Demography of the Rotifer
Brachionus calyciflorus
1, 2 1 | College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China |
2 | Center of Cooperative Innovation for Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang
Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Wuhu 241000, China |
3 | College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China |
4 | School of Earth and Environment, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Xiao-Ping Xu
College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China, Beijing Middle Road, Wuhu, Anhui Province, China, 241000, Wuhu, China
College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China, Beijing Middle Road, Wuhu, Anhui Province, China, 241000, Wuhu, China
Submission date: 2020-03-23
Final revision date: 2020-05-31
Acceptance date: 2020-06-05
Online publication date: 2020-09-08
Publication date: 2020-11-10
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2021;30(1):893–901
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The algae- rotifer food chain plays a pivotal role in freshwater dynamics, as well as assessing
toxicity in aquatic environments. We investigated the changes in algal cell density, photosynthetic
pigments, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and Cu2+ bioaccumulation after exposing Scenedesmus
obliquus to 3.75, 7.5, 15, 30, and 60 μg/L Cu2+ for 72 h. We also studied the effects of Cu2+-exposed
algae on the life table demographic parameters of Brachionus calyciflorus after 48 and 96 h of feeding.
The results found that, when compared with the control, 3.75 μg/L Cu2+ significantly increased algal cell
density after 48 h, while 60 μg/L Cu2+ significantly reduced algal cell density after 24 h. Increases in
exposure time resulted in the chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, and carotenoids showing an initial decrease
and then increasing trend when compared to the control. Low concentrations of Cu2+ tended to induce
increased SOD activity in algal cells, while high concentrations inhibited SOD activity. With increasing
Cu2+ concentration and time, the Cu2+ bioaccumulation in algal cells increased proportionally. The
highest bioaccumulation value was 1205 μg/g in 60 μg/L Cu2+ treatment after 72 h of exposure, 376.28%
higher than pre-exposure level. Algae in the 3.75 μg/L Cu2+ treatment group significantly inhibited the
population growth of B. calyciflorus, algae in the 60 μg/ Cu2+ group had the strongest inhibitory effect
on the population growth of rotifers, and algae in the 30 μg/L Cu2+ group significantly increased the
offspring mictic rate. The rotifer population produced adaptive responses to Cu2+-exposed algae stress
after 96 h of feeding, unlike after 48 h.
RELATED ARTICLE