title: Effects of copper on early developmental stages of Lessonia nigrescens Bory (Phaeophyceae).
abstract: Copper effects on the early developmental gametophytic and sporophytic stages of the kelp Lessonia nigrescens were tested in gradients of increasing concentrations of ASV-labile copper. The results demonstrated a high sensitivity to copper of all life-history stages of the alga, where even the lowest tested concentration affected spore release as well as their subsequent settlement. More significant, concentrations higher than 7.87 microg L(-1) totally interrupted the development of the spores after they settle. This effect led to a failure in the formation of male and female gametophytes and, as a consequence, to a complete disruption of the normal life cycle of the kelp. Thus, we suggest that the absence of L. nigrescens from copper-enriched environments results from the high sensitivity of its early life cycle stages, which limits growth and maturation of the gametophytic microscopic phase and, as a consequence, prevents development of the macroscopic sporophytic phase.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecología, Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda 340, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Loretto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: Matías H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Oppliger
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Correa
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005718:Gametogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D044423:Kelp / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D013170:Spores / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D003300:Copper