Related Experiment Videos
Phenanthrene accumulation kinetics in marine diatoms
Cheng-Wei Fan1, John R Reinfelder
1Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA.
Environmental Science & Technology
|September 12, 2003
Summary
Marine diatoms accumulate phenanthrene differently based on cell size. Smaller diatoms show faster surface uptake, but internal accumulation is influenced by cell size and growth rates, impacting potential trophic transfer.
Area of Science:
- Environmental chemistry
- Marine biology
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Phenanthrene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, can accumulate in marine organisms.
- Diatoms are key primary producers in coastal ecosystems and can interact with hydrophobic organic contaminants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the kinetics of phenanthrene accumulation on cell surfaces and within two coastal marine diatom species.
- To determine the influence of cell size and surface-area-to-volume ratio (A/V) on phenanthrene uptake and depuration.
Main Methods:
- Studied cell surface and intracellular accumulation kinetics of phenanthrene in Thalassiosira pseudonana and T. weissflogii.
- Measured uptake and depuration rate constants for both species.
- Analyzed the relationship between A/V and phenanthrene cell surface fraction.
Main Results:
- Cell surface uptake and depuration rates were 2-3 times higher in smaller T. pseudonana compared to T. weissflogii, correlating with A/V.
- Intracellular depuration rate constants were similar for both species and comparable to other microalgae.
- Phenanthrene loss rate constants were similar to phytoplankton growth rates, suggesting biodilution is significant.
Conclusions:
- Phytoplankton cell size, specifically A/V, directly influences the fraction of phenanthrene at the cell surface.
- Intracellular partitioning of phenanthrene is dependent on cell size, potentially affecting trophic transfer in marine food webs.