Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2025
08:18
A Small-Scale Setup for Algal Toxicity Testing of Nanomaterials and Other Difficult Substances
Published on: October 10, 2020
5.8K
Odor-producing response pattern by four typical freshwater algae under stress: Acute microplastic exposure as an
Cheng Cen1, Kejia Zhang1, Jie Fu2
1College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
The Science of the Total Environment
|January 25, 2022
Summary
Microplastics (MPs) significantly impact algae odor production in freshwater. MP size relative to algal cells (SRMC) determines effects, with promotion at SRMC 0.1-1 and inhibition at other ratios, affecting drinking water quality.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecotoxicology
- Water Quality Management
Background:
- Algal blooms frequently cause odor issues in drinking water sources.
- Research on algal odor production under stress, particularly from microplastics (MPs), is limited.
- Microplastic pollution is a global concern, often co-occurring with algal blooms in freshwater ecosystems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of microplastic (MP) size and size ratio over cells (SRMC) on odorant production by freshwater algae.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of MP-induced stress on algal odorant formation.
- To provide insights into algal odor issues in source waters impacted by microplastic pollution.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of four freshwater algae species (Microcystis aeruginosa, Pseudanabaena sp., Cyclotella meneghiniana, Melosira varians) to varying sizes of polystyrene microspheres (100 nm, 1000 nm, 10 μm).
- Quantification of key odorants (e.g., β-cycloidal, 2-methylisopropanol, 2,4-heptandienal, 2,4-decadienal) produced by algae under different microplastic conditions.
- Calculation of the size ratio of microplastics over cells (SRMC) to analyze size-dependent effects and correlate with cellular density, yield, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.
Main Results:
- Varying MP sizes significantly affected the formation of specific algal odorants.
- A size ratio of microplastics over cells (SRMC) between 0.1-1 promoted odorant production, mainly by increasing cellular yield via ROS-related precursors.
- SRMC < 0.1 severely inhibited odorant production by reducing both cellular density and yield, potentially due to MP internalization and toxicity, while SRMC > 1 also showed inhibition but less severe.
Conclusions:
- Microplastic size relative to algal cells is a critical factor modulating odorant production in freshwater algae.
- Microplastics can impair source water aesthetics by altering algal odor profiles, with effects dependent on the MP-to-algae size ratio.
- Understanding these stress-induced responses is crucial for managing drinking water quality in environments affected by microplastic pollution.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Other Algae
120
The group Stramenopiles include some phototrophic microorganisms. Members of this group possess flagella covered in numerous short, hairlike extensions, a feature that inspired the group's name, derived from the Latin words for "straw" and "hair." Some of the main categories of Stramenopiles include diatoms, golden algae, and brown algae.Diatoms are unicellular, photosynthetic eukaryotes, with over 200 known genera. They play a key role in the planktonic communities of both marine and...
120
01:23Red Algae
250
Red algae, also known as rhodophytes, are primarily found in marine environments, though some species inhabit freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. These organisms exist in both unicellular and multicellular forms, with some multicellular varieties reaching macroscopic sizes.As phototrophic organisms, red algae contain chlorophyll a; however, their chloroplasts lack chlorophyll b. Instead, they possess phycobiliproteins, which serve as major light-harvesting pigments, similar to those found in...
250
01:21Green Algae
252
Green algae, also referred to as chlorophytes, are different from red algae in having the chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and b, which give them their distinct green hue. However, they lack phycobiliproteins, preventing them from developing the red or blue-green pigmentation seen in red algae. In terms of photosynthetic pigment composition, green algae closely resemble plants and share a close evolutionary relationship with them. Taxonomically Green algae belong to Phylum Chlorophyta in...
252
02:02Responses to Salt Stress
13.5K
Salt stress—which can be triggered by high salt concentrations in a plant’s environment—can significantly affect plant growth and crop production by influencing photosynthesis and the absorption of water and nutrients.
13.5K
02:41Responses to Drought and Flooding
11.2K
Water plays a significant role in the life cycle of plants. However, insufficient or excess of water can be detrimental and pose a serious threat to plants.
11.2K