Photosynthetic performance of symbiont-bearing foraminifera Heterostegina depressa affected by sunscreens

Bibliographic Details
Title: Photosynthetic performance of symbiont-bearing foraminifera Heterostegina depressa affected by sunscreens
Authors: Michael Lintner, Michael Schagerl, Bianca Lintner, Matthias Nagy, Petra Heinz
Source: Scientific Reports, Vol 12, Iss 1, Pp 1-7 (2022)
Publisher Information: Nature Portfolio, 2022.
Publication Year: 2022
Collection: LCC:Medicine
LCC:Science
Subject Terms: Medicine, Science
More Details: Abstract Foraminifera are abundant unicellular organisms that play an important role in marine element cycles. A large benthic foraminifer obligatory bearing photosymbionts is Heterostegina depressa. We studied potential impacts of sunscreens available on the market on the activity of photosymbionts on H. depressa by means of pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorescence microscopy. We included four different sunscreens, with two of them sold as “conventional” and two more stated as “eco-friendly”. Further, the impact of pure Ensulizole (phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid) was tested, which is a common agent of sunscreens. Foraminifera were incubated at varying concentrations (10, 50 and 200 mgL−1) of different sunscreens and the pure Ensulizole for 14 days. The photosynthetic performance was measured after 1,3, 7 and 14 days. Pure Ensulizole had a strong negative impact on the photobionts, which was reflected by a significant reduction of the areal fluorescence signal. “Eco-friendly” sunscreens affected the health of foraminifera more severely compared to “conventional” ones. We assume that metal nanoparticles like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide of “eco-friendly” sunscreens are causing this impact, because these substances were already classified as toxic for several microorganisms.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2045-2322
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06735-1
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/e83456b543e741ac85d30b574d616cd6
Accession Number: edsdoj.83456b543e741ac85d30b574d616cd6
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:20452322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-06735-1
Published in:Scientific Reports
Language:English