Ref ID : 6002
S.G. Lawrence, M.H. Holoka, and R.D. Hamilton; Effects of Cadmium on a Microbial food chain, Chlamydomonas reinhardii and Tetrahymena vorax. The Science of the Total Environment 87/88:381-395, 1989
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A steady-state microbial food chain consisting of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardii and the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena vorax was established in a two-stage, nitrogen-limited chemostat. The lowest concentration of cadmium which produced a toxic effect at the population level was between 7.5 and 10 µg l-1. The algal population acclimated to the presence of cadmium up to 40 µg l-1 added in increments over time, but demonstrated lowered cell numbers and reduced cell weights. Protozoan population acclimated to 40 µgCd l-1 added incrementally if the rate of dilution was lowered. Abrupt elevation of the cadmium concentration to 40 µg l-1 resulted in extreme fluctuations in the specific growth rates of both populations and the incipient loss of all cells from the system (washout).