Are filtration rates for the rough tunicate Styela plicata independent of weight or size?

作者：Draughon Lisa D^*; Scarpa John; Hartmann James X

来源：Journal of Environmental Science and Health - Part A: Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering , 2010, 45(2): 168-176.

DOI：10.1080/10934520903429816

• Filtration rate
• clearance rate
• Styela plicata
• bioremediation
• estuary
• water quality
• microalgae
• bacteria
• tunicate
• ascidian

The filtration rate of the rough tunicate Styela plicata was determined as an aid for potential use as a bioremediator of algae and bacteria contamination in estuarine waters. Filtration rates were calculated hourly over a period of six hours for tunicates (16.8 to 57.8 grams) exposed to two targeted concentrations (105 and 106 cells mL(-1)) of the microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. (n = 7 per treatment) and the bacteria Escherichia coli (n = 6 per treatment). Filtration rates for individual tunicates exposed to microalgae differed as much as 3520 mL hr(-1) within an hour and 2349 mL hr(-1) with bacteria. However, the average filtration rate of tunicates exposed to microalgae at 10(5) cells mL(-1) was 3065 mL hr(-1) animal(-1) (+/- 1284 mL hr(-1) s.d.), 3252 mL hr(-1) animal(-1) (+/- 1039 mL hr(-1) s.d.) at 10(6) cells mL(-1) and 3158 mL hr(-1)animal(-1) when combined. The average filtration rate with bacteria at 10(5) cells mL(-1) was 4654 mL hr(-1) animal(-1) (+/- 810 mL hr(-1) s.d.), 2296 mL hr(-1) animal(-1) (+/- 1460 mL hr(-1) s. d.) at 10(6) cells mL(-1) and 3475 mL hr(-1) animal(-1) when combined. There was no relationship between average hourly filtration rate and whole animal weight (r(2) = 0.0001) ordry organ weight (r(2) = 0.0067) indicating that filtration rate should not be reported on a live or dry weight basis. It is suggested that averaging the filtration rate of a population of animals over time would yield a more accurate value, especially for use in modeling of bioremediation effects.

• 出版日期2010