Effects of hexavalent chromium on phytoplankton and bacterioplankton of the Río de la Plata estuary: an ex-situ assay

• Autores: Sathicq, María Belén; Gómez, Nora
• Año de publicación: 2018
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: Biología Marina, Limnología; Chlorophyll-a; Pheophytin; Phytoplankton assemblage; Oxygen production; Bacterioplankton; Toxicology
• Institución: Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires

We examined the responses of the phytoplankton and the bacterioplankton of the freshwater zone of the Río de la Plata estuary when exposed to an addition of hexavalent chromium (Cr+6). The planktonic community from a coastal site was exposed to a chromium increase of 80μgL−1for 72h in laboratory conditions. The results showed a decrease in the concentration of Cr+6by 33% in the treatments, along with significant decreases in chlorophyll-a (63%), the chlorophyll-a:pheophytin-a ratio (33%), oxygen production (37%), and in the total density of the phytoplankton (15%). The relative abundance of chlorophytes and diatoms decreased, while the cyanobacteria thrived. Finally, the total bacterial density and the density of viable bacteria decreased. These results show that even small increments in Cr+6can cause significant effects on the phytoplankton and bacterioplankton, which could potentially affect other trophic levels of the community, risking alterations of the entire ecosystem.