Production of Bromoform and Dibromomethane by Giant Kelp: Factors Affecting Release and Comparison to Anthropogenic Bromine Sources

• Published in: Limnology and oceanography 1997-12, Vol.42 (8), p.1725-1734
• Main Authors: Goodwin, Kelly D., North, Wheeler J., Lidstrom, Mary E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Bromides; Bromine; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen; Macroalgae; Macrocystis pyrifera; Marine; Marine and brackish environment; Methane; Peroxides; Phaeophyta; Pollutant emissions; Sea water; Surface water
• ISSN: 0024-3590; 1939-5590
• DOI: 10.4319/lo.1997.42.8.1725

Macrocystis pyrifera (Giant Kelp), a dominant macroalgal species in southern California, produced 171 ng per g fresh wt (gfwt) per day of CHBr3and 48 ng gfwt-1 d-1 of CH2Br 2during laboratory incubations of whole blades. Comparable rates were measured during in sity incubations of intact fronds. Release of CHBr3and CH2Br 2by M. pyrifera was affected by light and algal photosynthetic activity, suggesting that environmental factors influencing kelp physiology can affect halomethane release to the atmosphere. Data from H2O 2additions suggest that brominated methane production during darkness is limited by bromide oxidant supply. A bromine budget constructed for a region of southern California indicated that bromine emitted from the use of CH3Bras a fumigant (1× 108g Br yr-1) dominates macroalgal sources (3× 106g Br yr-1). Global projections, however, suggest that combined emissions of marine algae (including microalgae) contribute substantial amounts of bromine to the global cycle, perhaps on the same order of magnitude as anthropogenic sources.