The Effect of Ni super(2+), Co super(2+), Zn super(2+) and Hg super(2+) on the Growth Rate of Marine Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin: Microplate Growth Inhibition Test

Influence of heavy metals on the growth rate of marine phytoplankton diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum using miniaturized bioassay method was investigated. It was indicated that the growth was a good indicator of the toxic action of metals in microalgae and reflected the metabolism of the cell. It was indicated that zinc (Zn) showed stimulation effect only in the stationary phase of growth. It was observed that since the IC50 values for mercury (Hg) did not change significantly, it seemed that P. tricornutum developed a resistance to Hg. It was concluded that low concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and cobalt (Co) had stimulatory effect on the growth rate of P. tricornutum during both the exponential phase and the stationary phase of growth.