Development of Hormosira banksii (Phaeophyceae) embryos in selected components of secondarily-treated sewage effluent

Abstract

We investigated the effects of phosphate, ammonium, and a mixture of heavy metals as components of sewage effluent, together with the effects of reduced salinity due to sewage effluent discharge into a marine environment, on the development of Hormosira banksii (Turner) Decaisne embryos. The concentration of each effluent component tested in this study was calculated to approximate levels in the shore zone where H. banksii once occurred at Boags Rocks (Victoria, Australia) and the artificial sea medium was diluted to 20‰ S based on average salinity levels measured at this site. Newly fertilized eggs were cultured in each of these components and combinations of components for up to 7 days. Ammonium, elevated to levels that occur in the vicinity of the outfall, and fresh water, which reduces seawater salinity, were the most damaging of the effluent components tested. Osmotically stressed embryos commonly showed swollen chloroplasts, loss of cell contents, vesiculate cytoplasm, and stunted rhizoid development. Exposure to elevated levels of ammonium retarded embryo development and growth until day 7, when cellular damage became evident. The number of damaged embryos was significantly greater when exposed to elevated levels of ammonium added to artificial seawater medium diluted to 20‰ S. The adverse effects caused by elevated levels of ammonium and reduced seawater salinity on H. banksii embryo development could have contributed to the disappearance of this species from Boags Rocks.