Fate of biologically accumulated copper in growing and decomposing thalli Of two benthic red marine algae

Two benthic Rhodophyta,Ceramium pedicellatwnandNeogardhiella baileyi, were cultured in the laboratory to investigate uptake and subsequent release of Cu by both living and decomposing thalli. Concentration factors of Cu in the thalli of 4540-6864 were obtained. Algae grown initially in copper-supplemented media were cultured for 7 days in organic free medium and the amounts of Cu associated with the dissolved inorganic and organic fractions were then determined.