Action de métaux lourds à des doses sublétales sur les caractéristiques de la croissance chez la diatomée Skeletonema costatum

Sublethal effects of mercury, cadmium and copper on the diatom Skeletonema costatum (Grev.) Cleve, grown in batch and bacteria-free culture are studied. Division rate, maximum yield growth, mean cell volume, particulate carbon and nitrogen, and ¹⁴C-bicarbonate uptake are used as toxic impairment criteria. Division rate is the first-affected and most sensitive parameter, but algal responses vary according to the metal. Hg produces an acute decrease in division rate, followed by a temporary recovery of growth capacity within the first 48 h after metal addition. Cd, on the other hand, increases division rate, followed by an obvious decrease. Cu reduces division rate slowly or quickly, depending on the metal concentration. Cell synthesis capacity (culture biovolume, particulate carbon and nitrogen, carbon assimilation) is less affected than division rate, especially with Hg. The C:N cell ratio is unchanged at sublethal concentrations, even when production is reduced. The mean cell volume is slightly affected: the variations are not greater than those of the control during its growth phases. Markedly teratological forms are never observed. In the authors' opinion, these results confirm that many parameters and growth kinetic aspects must be considered to fully appreciate the effects of sublethal concentrations of heavy metals. It would also be of advantage to develop a better methodology for such research, applying, for example, techniques already employed in enzymology.