The effect of inorganic and organic mercury on growth kinetics of Nitzschia accicularis W. Sm. and Tetraselmis suecica Butch.

Studies have been made on the toxicities of three inorganic (HgCl2, HgSO4, and NH2HgCl) and two organic (CH3HgCl and phenyl mercuric acetate (PMA)) mercury derivatives on planktonic algae (Nitzschia acicularis W. Sm. and Tetraselmis suecica Butch.) Growth kinetics and flourescence changes were used as criteria for assessing algal-metal responses. Methylmercury chloride was found to be the more toxic form, inhibiting growth of both species at levels of 0.025 ppm Hg. PMA inhibited Nitzschia at the same concentration. Inorganic forms prevent growth of the diatom at 0.15-0.20 ppm Hg. Addition of inorganic mercury at concentrations of 0.05 ppm Hg resulted in reduction of the lag phase, increase in exponential growth rate, or both. Increasing mercury concentrations caused a gradual increase in the lag phase in T. suecica and in N. acicularis only with mercuric sulphate. Populations recovered from this initial effect and started to grow. The effect of inoculum size on mercurial toxicity was tested. The higher concentrations of mercury that still permit growth restricted the chlorophyll fluorescence to the central cellular area and the cells appear slimmed. This effect is highest in concentrations that inhibit growth.