Effect of different salinities on growth and intra- and extracellular toxicity of four strains of the haptophyte Prymnesium parvum

Abstract

The present study investigates the effect of brackish (7 PSU) and marine (26 PSU) salinity on physiological parameters and intra- and extracellular toxicity in 4 strains of Prymnesium parvum Carter. The different P. parvum strains were grown in batch cultures in 2 trials under different experimental conditions to test the development of intra- and extracellular toxicity during growth. The response of P. parvum toxicity to salinity was validated using 2 protocols. Intraspecific variations in growth rate, maximal cell density (yield) and cell morphology were controlled by salinity. Extracellular toxicity was higher at 7 PSU in all strains, but no correlation was found between intra- and extracellular toxicity. The variation of extracellular toxicity in response to salinity was much greater than that of intracellular toxicity, which indicates that P. parvum may be producing a variety of substances contributing to its various types of 'toxicity'.© Inter-Research 2012.