Many microalgal species inhabit freshwater ecosystems, however the green microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata is one of the most used in so-called bioassays.
In today’s world, where pollution and contamination frequently have a negative impact on our natural resources, it is vital to maintain regular and regulated testing of chemicals, toxins, or other forms of contamination. However, in order to do this properly, we need the correct tools and methods so that we can recognize when conditions aren’t ideal.
Freshwater ecosystems are particularly important to monitor, as they constitute the main drinking water resource for humans and other organisms, as well as being the home to a vast diversity of aquatic species. It is also important to regularly assess water quality to ensure that water bodies remain within expected environmental health standards.
There are many methods for testing water quality. For instance, investigating the health of microalgae - single-celled, photosynthesizing organisms, can tell us a lot about the presence of contaminants. Microalgae are at the base of the aquatic food chain, so changes in the abundance of this species or their reproductive rates, could have effects higher up in the food chain and possibly disturb the productivity of the entire ecosystem. Microalgal toxicity tests are required to analyze the toxicity of potentially hazardous substances in the aquatic environment, however these tests often do not illustrate how toxins physically impact microalgal cells.
Continue reading at Norwegian Institute for Water Research
Image via Norwegian Institute for Water Research
