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

Two benthic Rhodophyta, Ceramium pedicellatwn and Neogardhiella 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.