Comparison of metal toxicity bioassays based on inhibition of sporulation and spore release inUlva pertusa

The present investigation involves the use of green marine macroalgae,U. pertusa, as a tool for bioassay of heavy metals (silver, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, mercury, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc) prevalent in most industrial wastewaters. This is the first report of its kind wherein both, sporulation as well as spore release, is investigated synchronously. The EC₁₀ and EC₅₀ values obtained were also compared with toxicity norms of waste water quality criteria in Korea and global permissible limits. Based on variability it could be stated that the sporulation test was more reliable than the spore release test. The cosmopolitan presence ofUlva spp. makes the applicability of both these tests prominent as effective diagnostic tools for detecting pollution in metal polluted waters.