Seasonal variations in halides in marine brown algae from Porbandar and Okha coasts (NW coast of India)

Abstract

Seasonal variation of halides and their ratios were estimated in three brown algae, namely Cystoseira indica, Sargassum tenerrimum and S. johnstonii from Porbandar and Okha coasts. Halides were found to be higher in early stages of growth. TheBr:F ratio was higher in reproductive stage indicating that algae tend to accumulate Br compared to F during this stage than at early and senescent stages; though Br level in ambient medium is not a limiting factor. Matrix analysis of DPEF (differential percentage of enrichment factor) of halides shows that the tissue concentration of each halide was independent of other halides accumulation. The extent of bioaccumulation could be related to intrinsic property such as kappa spec (spectroscopic electronegativity) of each halide. The kappa spec was found to control the relative enrichment of elements (halides). From the available data oh Indian marine algae, the stoichiometric relationship of iodine with respect to the bulk constituents was found to be 7900:531:16:1 for C:N:P:I which differs from that of Redfield ratio.