Zinc and lead bioaccumulation in Gracilaria fisheri (Rhodophyta)

Abstract

Bioaccumulation of zinc and lead by Gracilaria fisheri in a wide range of concentration solutions was studied. G. fisheri (150g) divided into 4 bundles were immersed into culture medium containing 0.1, 1.0, 3.2 10.0 and 32.0 mg L-1 of metal and control. Culture medium was renewed every four days and aerated continuously. The nutrients ammonium and phosphate were added at every water change. G. fisheri (lOg) were taken weekly for metal analysis. The bioaccumulation pattern of Zn and Pb in seaweed, agar extracted from this seaweed and fibre of the seaweed were measured.