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(43-04) Effects of anti-fouling agents on photosynthesis in coastal phytoplankton communities. Eriksson, Martin*,1, Grönwall, Frederick1, Blanck, Hans1, 1 Botanical Institute Carl Skottsbergs gata 22B, Gothenburg, Sweden ABSTRACT- A variety of booster biocides are presently used in Europe to prevent biofouling of ships and yachts. Some of them, for example TBT and copper, have well documented risk profiles while the aquatic toxicology of the more recently introduced antifouling toxicants like irgarol 1051, seanine 211, diuron, chlorothalonil, dichlofluanide and zinc pyrithione have not been sufficiently studied. Phytoplankton communities were sampled in the coastal environment of the Swedish West Coast in the summer of 2000. Samples were taken at sites distant from point sources like harbours and marinas. The inhibition of photosynthesis was measured as incorporation of radiolabelled carbon dioxide in a comparative study of the six compounds. PAM fluorimetry was used to follow the development of toxicity over time. The observed differences in their potency to affect photosynthesis are partly due to the different modes of action of the toxicants. The results show that these compounds are very toxic to photosynthesis of marine phytoplankton communities and that effects is also detectable with PAM fluorimetry. The designated inhibitors of photosynthesis (irgarol 1051 and diuron) very rapidly affect their targets while inhibition of photosynthesis takes much longer to occur for compounds with other target processes. The acute toxicity of photosynthesis will be related to the corresponding long-term effects on phytoplankton communities for irgarol 1051 and seanine 211. Key words: phytoplankton, booster biocides, biofouling, PAM |
