THE EFFECT OF SALINITY ON GROWTH AND CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT IN REPRESENTATIVE CLASSES OF UNICELLULAR MARINE ALGAE

Abstract

Growth and relative chlorophyll content per cell of Platymonas sp., Syracosphaera carterae, Monochrysis lutheri, Olisthodiscus sp., Thalassiosira decipiens, Cyclotelia sp., Cryptomonas sp., Amphidinium carteri, and Porphyridium sp. were determined at various salinities from 2.5 to 35 parts per thousand in an enriched sea-water medium. All of these organisms grew well in a wide range of salinities, and when growth was completely suppressed it was at the lower salinities. Thalassiosira, Cyclotelia, Syracosphaera, Cryptomonas, and Monochrysis did not show a definite salinity optimum for growth, and the chlorophyll content per cell was approximately the same at all salinities. Olisthodiscus and Amphidinium showed a salinity optimum for growth, and the chlorophyll content per cell was also higher at the optimum salinity for growth. Growth of Platymonas and Porphyridium was little influenced by changes in salinity, but the chlorophyll content per cell was affected by changes in salinity.