Are filtration rates for the rough tunicate Styela plicata independent of weight or size?

• Published in: Journal of environmental science and health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering, 2010-01, Vol.45 (2), p.168-176
• Main Authors: Draughon, Lisa D., Scarpa, John, Hartmann, James X.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; Animals; Applied sciences; ascidian; Bacteria; Bioremediation; Brackish; clearance rate; Drying; E coli; Environmental engineering; Environmental science; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; estuary; Eukaryota - isolation & purification; Exact sciences and technology; Exposure; Filtration; Filtration rate; Hazardous; Health; Marine; microalgae; Mollusks; Nannochloropsis; Pollution; Studies; Styela plicata; Toxic; Toxicology; tunicate; Urochordata - physiology; Water filtration; Water Microbiology; water quality
• ISSN: 1093-4529; 1532-4117
• DOI: 10.1080/10934520903429816

The filtration rate of the rough tunicate Styela plicata was determined as an aid for potential use as a bioremediator of algae and bacteria contamination in estuarine waters. Filtration rates were calculated hourly over a period of six hours for tunicates (16.8 to 57.8 grams) exposed to two targeted concentrations (10 5 and 10 6 cells mL −1 ) of the microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. (n = 7 per treatment) and the bacteria Escherichia coli (n = 6 per treatment). Filtration rates for individual tunicates exposed to microalgae differed as much as 3520 mL hr −1 within an hour and 2349 mL hr −1 with bacteria. However, the average filtration rate of tunicates exposed to microalgae at 10 5 cells mL −1 was 3065 mL hr −1 animal −1 (± 1284 mL hr −1 s.d.), 3252 mL hr −1 animal −1 (± 1039 mL hr −1 s.d.) at 10 6 cells mL −1 and 3158 mL hr −1 animal −1 when combined. The average filtration rate with bacteria at 10 5 cells mL −1 was 4654 mL hr −1 animal −1 (± 810 mL hr −1 s.d.), 2296 mL hr −1 animal −1 (± 1460 mL hr −1 s.d.) at 10 6 cells mL −1 and 3475 mL hr −1 animal −1 when combined. There was no relationship between average hourly filtration rate and whole animal weight (r 2 = 0.0001) or dry organ weight (r 2 = 0.0067) indicating that filtration rate should not be reported on a live or dry weight basis. It is suggested that averaging the filtration rate of a population of animals over time would yield a more accurate value, especially for use in modeling of bioremediation effects.