Comparative study of three analysis methods (TTGE, flow cytometry and HPLC) for xenobiotic impact assessment on phytoplankton communities

Abstract

The impacts of the fungicide Opus (epoxiconazole) on marine phytoplankton communities were assessed in a 12-day field experiment using in situ microcosms maintained underwater at 6 m depth. Three community analysis methods were compared for their sensitivity threshold in fungicide impact detection. When phytoplankton communities were exposed to 1 microg l(-1) of epoxiconazole, no effects could be demonstrated using TTGE (Temporal Temperature Gradient gel Electrophoresis), flow cytometry or HPLC. When exposed to 10 microg l(-1), TTGE fingerprints from PCR amplified 18S rDNA of communities exhibited significant differences compared with controls (ANOSIM, P = 0.028). Neither flow cytometry counts, nor HPLC pigment profiles allowed to show significant differences in microcosms exposed to 10 microg l(-1) of epoxiconazole. When exposed to 100 microg l(-1), all three methods allowed to detect significant differences in treated microcosms, as compared to controls. The TTGE analysis appears in this study as the most sensitive method for fungicide impact assessment on eukaryote microbial communities.

Flow cytometric measurements of cellular responses in a toxic dinoflagellate, Alexandrium minutum, upon exposure to thermal, chemical and mechanical stresses

“…This study was carried out with the financial support of the National Research Agency (ANR), ''MODECOPHY' ' Project 06SEST23 (2006-2009 and of the Brittany Region, ''EPHYTOX '' Project (2006'' Project ( -2009. [SS] …”

“…Several assays using flow cytometry (FCM) are now available to measure cell morphology and physiology of phytoplankton (Dubelaar and Jonker, 2000;Veldhuis and Kraay, 2000). FCM has been recognized to be useful for studies involving phytoplankton, such as assessing chemical toxicity to phytoplankton in the laboratory (Howlett and Avery, 1999;Franqueira et al, 2000;Lage et al, 2001;Stauber et al, 2002), in situ microcosm experiments (Stachowski-Haberkorn et al, 2008, 2009), or to monitor natural populations in the field (Marie et al, 1997;Rutten et al, 2005). Coupling FCM with the use of specific fluorescent dyes allowed access to specific cellular parameters and functions in phytoplankton.…”

Impact of contaminated-sediment resuspension on phytoplankton in the Biguglia lagoon (Corsica, Mediterranean Sea)

“…In the present study, we used three complementary methods (HPLC, microscopy and flow cytometry) to detect changes in the structure of the phytoplankton communities because, as highlighted by Stachowski-Haberkorn et al (2009), none of these methods alone can provide a full overview of structural changes likely to occur after chemical exposure.…”

“…; decrease in the prasinophyte-like populations and increase in Synechococcus populations; Stachowski-Haberkorn et al, 2009).…”

Influence of the soil organic matter content on voltammetric determination of derivatised glyphosate in herbicide contaminated soils

“…Higher negative impacts of the GP herbicides are observed in aquatic ecosystem and its biodiversity [11][12][13][14][15] . An acute toxicity and impact of the GP, its co-formulant POEA and metabolite AMPA were also observed on amphibians, its tadpoles and embryos, and Algae organisms all around the world 7, [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] . Studies in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) report a negative influence on their reproduction and significant morphological alterations on those specimens exposed to GP 23 .…”