Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1999
DOI
10.1093/plankt/21.6.1153
Publication Title
Journal of Plankton Research
Volume
21
Issue
6
Pages
1153-1169
Abstract
This study investigated the selenium (Se) requirements of three phytoplankton species which commonly bloom in southern Australian estuaries. The present study showed that the toxic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum Graham had an obligate requirement for Se (IV) in culture. After two transfers (~ 4 weeks ≈ 7 generations) in Se-deficient seawater medium, this phytoplankton species exhibited a decline in growth rate (25%) and biomass yield (90%), while complete cessation of cell division occurred under prolonged (8 weeks ≈ 12 generations) Se starvation. Addition of 10-9-10-7 M H2SeO3 to nutrient-enriched seawater medium resulted in increased G.catenatum growth and biomass yields in direct proportion to the Se concentrations offered. In contrast to G.catenatum, Se limitation was observed in the dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum Halim after four transfers (5 weeks ≈ 20 generations) in Se-deficient medium. Exponential growth rates of A.minutum decreased slightly (5-10%) when Se was not supplied, but biomass yields decreased as much as 80-90%. The diatom Chaetoceros cf. tenuissimus Meunier showed no evidence of Se limitation even after eight transfers (8 weeks; >60 generations) in Se-deficient medium. Variations in growth rates and biomass yields between transfers provide valuable information about the relative potential for Se limitation in the three species studied. In addition, differences in Se requirement between these bloom-forming phytoplankton species suggest that this micronutrient may play a role in structuring phytoplankton communities in southern Australian waters.
Rights
Web of Science: "Free full-text from publisher."
© Oxford University Press.
Original Publication Citation
Doblin, M. A., Blackburn, S. I., & Hallegraeff, G. M. (1999). Comparative study of selenium requirements of three phytoplankton species: Gymnodinium catenatum, Alexandrium minutum (Dinophyta) and Chaetoceros cf. tenuissimus (Bacillariophyta). Journal of Plankton Research, 21(6), 1153-1169. doi:10.1093/plankt/21.6.1153
Repository Citation
Doblin, Martina A.; Blackburn, Susan I.; and Hallegraeff, Gustaaf M., "Comparative Study of Selenium Requirements of Three Phytoplankton Species: Gymnodinium catenatum, Alexandrium minutum (Dinophyta) and Chaetoceros cf. tenuissimus (Bacillariophyta" (1999). OES Faculty Publications. 330.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/oeas_fac_pubs/330