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Effects of Nitrogen Dioxide on Algae¹

ABSTRACT

Photosynthetic activity of Anabaena flos-aquae in a soil suspension at an initial pH of 4.9 was almost totally eliminated after 3 days of exposure to 5.O ppm (µl/liter) NO₂, at which time the pH had fallen to 3.9. In contrast, A. flos-aquae in soil suspensions at an initial pH of 6.0 was not inhibited after 3 days by 5.O ppm NO₂, but the activity was reduced by half in the presence of 15.0 ppm NO₂; the pH was 6.5 and 5.8, respectively, in the NO₂-treated samples on day 3. Photosynthesis by the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Ankistrodesmus falcatus in soil suspensions at an initial pH of approx 4.2 was not appreciably affected by 15.0 ppm of NO₂ after 3 days, at which time the pH had fallen below 4.0. The high levels of NO₂ and low pH values required for toxicity suggest that blue-green and green algae probably will not be affected directly by NO₂ in polluted air.

Key Words: air pollution • photosynthesis • Anabaena flos-aquae

¹ Contribution from the Lab. of Soil Microbiol., Dep. of Agron., Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY 14853. The research was supported by Grant no. R-803691 from the USEPA. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the USEPA.

² Former Visiting Associate Professor and Professor of Soil Sci., respectively. Present address of senior author is Biology Dep., Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY 14850.

Received for publication February 23, 1979.