Heavy metal content, cell structure and pigment of Halimeda opuntia (Linnaeus) J.V. Lamouroux from Totok Bay and Blongko Waters, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

摘要

This study is to analyse the metal content in seawater, sediment, and macroalgae (Halimeda opuntia) in Totok Bay (polluted site) and Blongko (control/unpolluted site) waters in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The metal content, cellular and chloroplast structures, concentrations and types of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments in H. opuntia from Totok Bay and Blongko waters were analyzed using standard methods and high-magnification microscopy. Quantification of metal content in seawater, sediment and H.opuntia was done using standard methods while pigment analysis was performed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Effects of heavy metals on H. opuntia cell structure was done using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) at Eijkman Institute Laboratory. Results revealed that the sea water samples from both sites (Totok Bayand Blongko) contain similar levels of Arsenic (As)<0.0005 ppm, Chromium (Cr)<0.01 ppm, and Copper (Cu)<0.005 ppm. However, the concentration of metal in sediment samples from Totok Baycontain higher levels of As(19 ppm), Cr(10.9 ppm), and Cu(12 ppm) compared to sediment samples from Blongko waters which has negligible amount of these metals (As = <1 ppm, Cr = <0.2 ppm, and Cu = <1 ppm). A similar trend in metal content was observed in H. opuntia samples, i.e., higher concentration in Totok Bayin terms of As(6.5 ppm), Cr(0.7 ppm), and Cu(2.3 ppm) in contrast to samples of this algal species from Blongko waters (As = 1.5 ppm, Cr =0.1 ppm, and Cu=<0.5 ppm). H. opuntia samples from Blongko waters clearly showed cell structures (e.g. cell wall, chloroplast and vacuole) in good condition, a strark contrast to the damaged cell structures of this alga from Totok Bay, probably as a result to pollution. However, cell damage that occurred from H. opuntia from Totok Baydid not affect the chlorophyll content which was still detected (but in low concentration in HPLC). HPLC alsodetected chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid in H. opuntia samples from these two sites.