Fig. 2
Photosynthetic capacity of Prochlorococcus MIT9312 and NATL2A in the presence of diluted HDPE and PVC leachates compared to 0% leachate control (AMP1 media). Measurements of effective quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII) (a–d) and oxygen production rates (e–h) for Prochlorococcus MIT9312 and NATL2A control and leachate exposed populations after 3, 24 and 48 h of exposure. Data points are from triplicate independent biological samples (except for oxygen production rate measurements for NATL2A 3 h control in HDPE experiment where n = 2). In e–h, a subset of leachate dilutions were tested and once negative oxygen production rates were recorded (indicating respiration rates were likely higher than oxygen production rates) no more measurements were made. Asterisks are used to signify treatments for which measurements were significantly different (p < 0.01) to the control at the examined time point; source data and exact p-values for all timepoints are provided in Supplementary Data 2
