THE EFFECT OF ATRAZINE IN COMBINATION WITH CADMIUM AND COPPER ON THE MICROALGA SCENEDESMUS QUADRICAUDA (TURPIN)
THE EFFECT OF ATRAZINE IN COMBINATION WITH CADMIUM AND COPPER ON THE MICROALGA SCENEDESMUS QUADRICAUDA (TURPIN)
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Date
2014-11
Authors
GALADIMA, SADIYA YUNUSA
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Abstract
The interactive effects of cadmium (Cd) copper (Cu) and atrazine on Scenedesmus quadricauda was investigated in this study. Individually, the metals at 1-2 mg.L-1 (Cd and Cu) and herbicide at 0.005-0.5 mg.L-1(atrazine) significantly decreased algal growth, dry weight production and chlorophyll content, while antioxidant enzyme activities increased under the same conditions. The toxicity of both the metals and atrazine increased additively when the microalgae were exposed to them simultaneously. These changes in biomass production, chlorophyll content and antioxidant enzyme activities were observed to be significant with two-way ANOVA (p<0.05). Principal components analysis (PCA) results showed a significant positive correlation of atrazine and the metals with increasing protein content and antioxidant enzyme activities. In addition, a significant negative correlation was observed between growth, biomass production and chlorophyll content of S. quadricauda and the combination of metal and herbicide treatment. These results demonstrate that the combination of these metals and atrazine is toxic to this micro alga as a result of both additive and synergistic interactive toxic effects they have on it. This may have cascading effects to other levels of the aquatic food web, if other microalgae are also unable to withstand the levels investigated in this study. Considering that the concentrations tested in this study are within the maximum acceptable limits in water, it is really a cause for concern due to risk aquatic resources may face from the combination of these metals and atrazine.
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BOTANY. DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES FACULTY OF SCIENCE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA NIGERIA.
Keywords
EFFECT OF ATRAZINE,, CADMIUM,, COPPER,, MICROALGA,, SCENEDESMUS,, QUADRICAUDA (TURPIN)