The use of vital stains to determine the viability of marine phytoplankton

• Grant number: 12/14311-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2012
• End date: March 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Biological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Rubens Mendes Lopes
• Grantee: Izadora de La Volpe Mattiello
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Identify the viability of the marine phytoplankton is important for biomonitoring because these organisms are the base of the trophic chain in aquatic ecosystems. The use of vital stains has been one of the techniques applied in this type of analysis, but the potential of some dyes that are applied to these functions is still unclear. The goal of this study is to test vital stains for determining the viability of marine phytoplankton exposed to disturbances like oil spill and transport of ballast water. It is expected that the combination of dyes increases the efficiency of wider range of species viability detection. Different taxonomic groups will be used (Raphidophyceae, Cryptophyceae, Dinophyceae, Chlorophyceae e Prasinophyceae) maintained in culture, which will be submitted to a series of stains (calcein, CMFDA, neutral red, SYTOX Green, trypan blue and Evans blue), alone or in combination. The coloration efficiency will be test by observation on traditional and epifluorescence microscopy compared with analyzes of FlowCAM. The dyes that show the best potential of application, valued by statistical analysis, will be submitted to a many oil concentrations and treatments with temperature, UV, ozone, simulating a ballast water treating. Among the applications of this study is to provide subsidies for the development of systems for the detection of viable and non-viable organisms, to apply on diagnosis and monitoring of aquatic environmental.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MATTIELLO, Izadora de La Volpe. Staining evaluation for detection of marine phytoplankton viability. 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto Oceanográfico (IO/DIDC) São Paulo.