A fast algal bioassay for assessment of copper toxicity in water using Euglena gracilis

A rapid, sensitive algal bioassay was investigated to monitor copper toxicity using photosynthetic activity and motility parameters as end points in the photosynthetic flagellate Euglena gracilis. Effects on motility parameters were determined using the automatic bioassay ECOTOX. Photosynthetic efficiency was measured using chlorophyll fluorescence by means of a fast, noninvasive pulse amplitude modulated fluorometer. These parameters were assessed regarding their effectiveness as end points for short- (0-24 h) and long-term (1-5 days) toxicity tests. The model organism showed significant responses to the tested concentrations at both motility and photosynthesis examined levels. EC50 values for movement parameters immediately after the cells were mixed with copper are 19.09 (300.4 mu M), 20.4 (312 mu M) and 23.09 (363.35 mu M) mg L-1 for motility, r-value and velocity, respectively. The current study proofs that Euglena is a convenient biotest organism where motility parameters show rapid sensitive responses to copper (direct exposure to copper). Also, the photosynthetic parameters appear to be appropriate for acute and chronic toxicity tests for higher and lower copper concentrations, respectively.