An in situ bioassay for estuarine environments using the microalga phaeodactylum tricornutum

摘要

fThis study aimed at evaluating the potential of an in situ algal bioassay for routine toxicity estimates of potentially contaminated estuarine environments using the microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum immobilized in alginate beads. The influence of the initial cell density in the beads and of salinity on algal growth was first investigated. The potential of the proposed bioassay was evaluated by comparing laboratory with in situ results. A good growth performance of P.tricornutum was observed at all starting densities of beads. Although the growth rate of P.tricornutum was significantly affected by salinity, acceptability criteria currently adopted in algal assays were met, indicating the suitability of P.tricornutum as a test species for bioassays in estuaries.