'Ulva lactuca' as a Bioindicator of Coastal Water Quality

摘要

A study was conducted to develop methods that capitalize on the capacity of the green alga Ulva lactica L. (Ulva), known as Sea Lettuce, to function as a bioindicator for coastal waters. Preliminary studies evaluated growth of Ulva discs and germlings as related to physical parameters (monitoring coastal water nutrient load) in the environment. A number of observed nonuniformity factors reduced the feasibility of using a disc monitoring method. Use of genotypically identical germlings, on the other hand, proved to be a successful approach. Germlings were used as in situ assay organisms under diverse ecological conditions, with the unit of measurement related to germling growth. The ability to characterize Ulva germling growth relative to physical/chemical parameters operating in the environment was demonstrated. Use of Ulva as a bioaccumulator of water pollutants was also studied by gas chromatographic analysis of Ulva tissue samples from different Massachusetts populations. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and saturated hydrocarbons were observed in New Bedford and Hingham Harbor populations, respectively.