Comparative assessment of single and joint effects of diuron and Irgarol 1051 on Arctic and temperate microalgae using chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging

• Published in: Ecological Indicators
• Main Authors: Kottuparambil, Sreejith, Brown, Murray T., Park, Jihae, Choi, Soyeon, Lee, Hojun, Choi, Han-Gu, Depuydt, Stephen, Han, Taejun
• Other Authors: Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Institute of Green Environmental Research Center, 169, Gaetbeol-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom, Division of Life Science, Incheon National University, 119, Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea, Lab of Plant Growth Analysis, Ghent University Global Campus, Songomunhwa-Ro, 119, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21985, Republic of Korea, Department of Marine Science, Incheon National University, 119, Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea, Korea Polar Research Institute, 26, Songdomirae-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea, Ghent University Global Campus, Songomunhwa-Ro, 119, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21985, Republic of Korea
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Elsevier BV 2017
• Subjects: Chlamydomonas; Chlorella; Diuron; Irgarol 1051; Toxicity; Polar; Temperate; Arctic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10754/622887; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.01.024

Ship groundings and ice-breakers can cause pollution of the polar environment with antifouling biocides such as diuron and Irgarol 1051. The present study used pulse amplitude modulated fluorometry to compare single and joint toxicities of diuron and Irgarol 1051 on two freshwater taxa of microalgae (Chlorella and Chlamydomonas) originating from Arctic and temperate regions. 30min acute toxicity tests using chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence revealed that Arctic strains of microalgae were more sensitive to herbicides than their temperate counterparts. Diuron and Irgarol 1051 had equal toxicities in the Arctic species, while Irgarol 1051 was more toxic (EC50=5.55–14.70μgL−1) than diuron (EC50=12.90–>40μgL−1) in the temperate species. Toxicity assessment of various mixtures of diuron and Irgarol 1051 revealed antagonistic, additive, and synergistic effects. Our data suggest that herbicides can adversely affect photosynthesis in Arctic microalgae at relatively low levels, and their impact can increase under complex mixture conditions. The study was financially supported by Incheon National University (2012). Thanks are due to the Editor and the anonymous reviewers for their valuable and constructive comments.