Hormesis-like growth and photosynthetic physiology of marine diatom <i>Phaeodactylum tricornutum</i> Bohlin exposed to polystyrene microplastics

doi:10.1007/s11783-021-1436-0

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.

2022, Vol. 16

Issue (1) : 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-021-1436-0

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Hormesis-like growth and photosynthetic physiology of marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin exposed to polystyrene microplastics

Zuyin Chen¹, Lihua Li¹, Lichong Hao¹, Yu Hong¹(

), Wencai Wang²

¹. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
². College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China

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Abstract

• Polystyrene microplastic caused hormesis-like effects in Phaeodactylum tricornutum.

• Low concentration of microplastic promoted growth, otherwise the opposite was true.

• The change trends of pigment contents were opposite at two initial algae densities.

• The chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were more sensitive at low algae density.

The effects of pristine polystyrene microplastics (pMPs) without any pretreatment at different concentrations (0, 10, 20, 50, and 100 mg/L) on Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin at two initial algae densities (10⁵ and 10⁶ cells/mL) were assessed in this study. Hormesis-like effects were found when microalgae grew with pMPs. The results showed that pMPs inhibited microalgae growth under a high concentration of microplastics tolerated by individual algal cell (low initial algae density) (up to −80.18±9.71%) but promoted growth when the situation was opposite (up to 15.27±3.66%). The contents of photosynthetic pigments including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll c and carotenoids showed resistance to pMPs stress under a low initial algae density and increased with time, but the opposite was true under a high initial algae density. Compared with the low initial algae density group, Qp received less inhibition, and NPQ (heat dissipation) also decreased under the high initial algae density. Under the low initial algae density, OJIP parameters such as S_m, N, Area, Pi Abs, ѱ_o, φ_Eo, TRo/RC and ETo/RC were more perturbed initially and returned to the levels of the control group (without pMPs) over time, but they remained stable throughout the experiment at high initial algae density. These results show that microplastics in the marine environment may have different toxic effects on P. tricornutum at different growth stages, which is of great significance for understanding the impact of microplastics on marine microalgae and aquatic ecosystems.

Keywords Microplastics Marine microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin Growth Photosynthetic pigments Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters

Corresponding Author(s): Yu Hong

Issue Date: 21 June 2021

Cite this article:

Zuyin Chen,Lihua Li,Lichong Hao, et al. Hormesis-like growth and photosynthetic physiology of marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin exposed to polystyrene microplastics[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2022, 16(1): 2.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-021-1436-0
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2022/V16/I1/2

Fig.1 The XRD patterns (A) and grading curve (B) of polystyrene microplastics.

Tab.1 Physiologic meaning of the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters

Fig.2 Growth of P. tricornutum Bohlin exposed to pMPs. (A) Growth curves at a low initial algae density. (B) Growth curves at a high initial algae density. (C) Inhibition ratios at 7 d under a low initial algae density. (D) Stimulation ratios at 7 d under a high initial algae density. (average±standard deviation from triplicate experiments). * and ** represent the significant differences of p<0.05 and p<0.01 with the control group (0 mg/L microplastics), respectively.

Fig.3 Pigment changes in P. tricornutum Bohlin exposed to polystyrene microplastics under different initial algae densities. (A) Low initial algae density at 4 d. (B) Low initial algae density at 7 d. (C) High initial algae density at 4 d. (D) High initial algae density at 7 d. (average±standard deviation from triplicate experiments).

Fig.4 Changes in Fv/Fm, NPQ and Qp of P. tricornutum Bohlin exposed to polystyrene microplastics. (A) Low initial algae density at 4 d. (B) Low initial algae density at 7 d. (C) High initial algae density at 4 d. (D) High initial algae density at 7 d. (average±standard deviation from triplicate experiments).

Fig.5 OJIP fluorescence transients of P. tricornutum Bohlin at different polystyrene microplastic concentrations. (A) Low initial algae density at 4 d; (B) Low initial algae density at 7 d; (C) High initial algae density at 4 d; (D) High initial algae density at 7 d.

Fig.6 Changes in the OJIP parameter values of P. tricornutum Bohlin at different polystyrene microplastic concentrations. (A) Low initial algae density at 4 d; (B) Low initial algae density at 7 d; (C) High initial algae density at 4 d; (D) High initial algae density at 7 d.

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