EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION DUE TO WASTEWTER ON PHOTOSYNTHETIC ACTIVITY AND OXIDATIVE STRESS OF LARGE BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA

Abstract

 Large benthic foraminifers (LBFs) are one of the most significant symbiont-bearing calcifying organisms in the coral reef environment. They have a major role in island formation in Pacific atolls. LBF and its symbiont are being influenced by anthropogenic impacts such as wastewater (WW) discharge. To conserve and rehabilitate, pollution tolerance in LBFs should be understood. However, the effects of host and symbiont in LBF under exposure to WW have not yet been investigated. This study examined the changes in photosynthetic efficiency (Y[II]), Fv/Fm, chlorophyll-a and oxidative status lipid peroxidation (LPO) of Baculogypsina sphaerulata in response to WW. B. sphaerulata was exposed to WW with 2 dilution levels (1,000× and 10,000×) for 8 days. Both dilution of WW stressor reduced the photosynthetic efficiencies and only 1,000× induced the oxidative status. A correlation between Y(II) and LPO indicated that 1,000× had a great effect on B. sphaeurulata. This response was more significant in LBF’s host than in symbiotic algae. These findings highlight that LBF host and symbiont show different response under exposure to WW. From the results, we conclude that current coastal water pollution in urbanized atolls due to WW causes negative influence on LBF and therefore an urgent need for the development and implementation of effective WW measures aimed at conservation and rehabilitation of calcifying organisms.