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Effects of copper and lead exposure on the ecophysiology of the brown seaweed Sargassum cymosum

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Abstract

The effects of the heavy metals copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) on Sargassum cymosum were evaluated by determining uptake capacity, growth rates, photosynthetic efficiency, contents of photosynthetic pigments and phenolic compounds, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging capacity, and morphological and cellular changes. S. cymosum was cultivated with Cu and Pb separately and combined at concentrations of 10, 25, and 50 μM for 7 days in laboratory-controlled conditions. Seaweeds under Cu treatment showed the highest biosorption capacity, and growth rates were significantly reduced compared to the control. The photosynthesis/irradiance curves showed alterations in kinetic patterns in the metal-treated samples. Specifically, Cu treatment alone inhibited electron transport rate (ETR) response, while Pb alone induced it. However, samples treated with both Cu and Pb (Cu + Pb) showed inhibition in ETR. The total amount of pigments increased relative to control. Light microscopy showed an increase in phenolic compounds, with physodes migrating towards cortical cells. Scanning electronic microscopy revealed alterations in the typical rough surface of thallus, when compared with control, especially for Pb treatments. Based on these results, it could be concluded that Cu and Pb are stress factors for S. cymosum, promoting alterations in seaweed metabolism and stimulating protective mechanisms against oxidative stress. However, the high bioaccumulation capacity of both heavy metals indicates a possible application for S. cymosum as a biosorbent agent for contaminated wastewater when metals are in low concentrations.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the staff of the Central Laboratory of Electron Microscopy (LCME), Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, for the use of their scanning electron microscopy. Éder C. Schmidt holds a postdoctoral fellowship from CAPES. Giulia B. Costa holds a Master’s degree fellowship from CAPES. Zenilda L. Bouzon is a CNPq fellow. Fungyi Chow is a FAPESP fellow. This study is part of the MSc dissertation of the first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88049-900, CP 476, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

    Giulia Burle Costa, Marthiellen R. L. de Felix, Carmen Simioni & Zenilda L. Bouzon

  2. Scientific Initiation-PIBIC-CNPq, Department of Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88049-900, CP 476, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

    Débora T. Pereira

  3. Plant Morphogenesis and Biochemistry Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88049-900, CP 476, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

    Fernanda Ramlov, Eva Regina Oliveira & Marcelo Maraschin

  4. Institute of Bioscience, University of São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Fungyi Chow

  5. Phycology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88010-970, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

    Paulo Antunes Horta

  6. Postgraduate Program in Environmental Engineering, Department of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88049-970, CP 0476, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

    Cristina Moreira Lalau, Cristina H. da Costa & William Gerson Matias

  7. Postgraduate Program in Cell Biology and Development, Department of Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88049-900, CP 476, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil

    Éder C. Schmidt

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  1. Giulia Burle Costa
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  2. Marthiellen R. L. de Felix
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  3. Carmen Simioni
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  4. Fernanda Ramlov
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  5. Eva Regina Oliveira
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  6. Débora T. Pereira
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  7. Marcelo Maraschin
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  8. Fungyi Chow
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  9. Paulo Antunes Horta
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  13. Zenilda L. Bouzon
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  14. Éder C. Schmidt
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Costa, G.B., de Felix, M.R.L., Simioni, C. et al. Effects of copper and lead exposure on the ecophysiology of the brown seaweed Sargassum cymosum . Protoplasma 253, 111–125 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-015-0795-4

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