Phosphorus Availability Alters the Effects of Silver Nanoparticles on Periphyton Growth and Stoichiometry.

ABSTRACT: Exposure to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) may alter the structure and function of freshwater ecosystems. However, there remains a paucity of studies investigating the effects of AgNP exposure on freshwater communities in the natural environment where interactions with the ambient environment may modify AgNP toxicity. We used nutrient diffusing substrates to determine the interactive effects of AgNP exposure and phosphorus (P) enrichment on natural assemblages of periphyton in three Canadian Shield lakes. The lakes were all phosphorus poor and spanned a gradient of dissolved organic carbon availability. Ag slowly accumulated in the exposed periphyton, which decreased periphyton carbon and chlorophyll a content and increased periphyton C:P and N:P in the carbon rich lakes. We found significan

SUBMITTER: Norman BC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4468089 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature