Concentration-dependent responses of C. reinhardtii to silver ions: hormetic response in growth and reduction of motility.

ABSTRACT: Elevated levels of silver in aquatic environments arising from widespread use of silver nitrate and silver nanoparticles in different sectors of industry and medicine pose significant biophysical challenges to aquatic microorganisms. Despite extensive toxicity studies of silver on bacteria and microbial communities, its influence on other aquatic microorganisms, such as microalgae, remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the biophysical response of C. reinhardtii microalgae to silver ion exposure in terms of their population growth dynamics, chlorophyll content, and swimming motility. We found that silver ions at different concentrations (from 0.29 to 1.18 μ M) elongated the lag phase of the microalgal growth. However, the growth of the microalgae was boosted by silver io

SUBMITTER: Pradhan H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12436520 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature