Variations of Structural and Functional Traits of Azolla pinnata R. Br. in Response to Crude Oil Pollution in Arid Regions

In oil-producing countries, water pollution by crude petroleum oil frequently occurs and causes many environmental problems. This study aims to investigate the effect of crude petroleum oil on the growth and functional trails of the economically important freshwater plant Azolla pinnata R. Br. and to report on the plant’s resistance to this abiotic stress. Plants were raised in an open greenhouse experiment under different levels of crude oil pollution ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 g/L. Plant functional traits were monitored over a three-week period. Plant cover of A. pinnata was decreased with the increased levels of oil pollution. The total chlorophyll content decreased from 0.76 mg/g fresh weight under 2 g/L oil treatment after 21 days of growth. The chlorophyll a/b ratio exceeded the unity at crude oil treatments above 1 g/L, with values reaching 2.78 after seven days, while after 21 days, the ratio ranged from 1.14 to 1.31. The carotenoid content ranged from 0.17 mg/g in the control to 0.11 mg/g in the 2 g/L oil treatment. The carotenoid content varied over time in relation to DNA% damage, which increased from 3.63% in the control to 11.36% in the highest oil treatment level of 2 g/L. The crude oil stress caused severe damage in the frond tissues and chloroplast structure of A. pinnata, including a less compacted palisade, the malformation of the epidermis, the disintegration of parenchyma tissue, and the lysis and malformation of the chloroplasts. Since A. pinnata cannot withstand high concentrations of crude oil pollution, it is for use in the remediation of slightly polluted freshwaters up to 0.5 g/L.

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COMPARATIVE TOXICITY OF TWO OIL TYPES AND TWO DISPERSANTS ON THE GROWTH OF A SEASHORE GRASS, PASPALUM VAGINATUM(SWARTZ)

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-2008-1-875 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 2008 (1) ◽

pp. 875-880

Author(s):

Ruth I. Ibemesim ◽

Joseph F. Bamidele

Keyword(s):

Crude Oil ◽

Oil Pollution ◽

Heavy Crude Oil ◽

Stem Density ◽

Crude Petroleum ◽

Growth And Survival ◽

Light Crude Oil ◽

Paspalum Vaginatum ◽

Heavy Crude ◽

Petroleum Oil

ABSTRACT The present study consists of assessing the effects of Abura heavy crude petroleum oil (AC) and Oredo light crude petroleum oil (OC) on the survival of Paspalum vaginatum. The effectiveness of two dispersants, Goldcrew and Corexit 9527, in removing oil from P. vaginatum previously sprayed with either Abura of Oredo crude petroleum oil was assessed, the effect of time of dispersant application following crude oil pollution on growth and survival of P. vaginatum was also studied. Plants treated with AC recovered after 8 days while 100% mortality was recorded for plants treated with OC + Corexit 9527 (O24C0 and O48C0). Corexit 9527 was not effective in ameliorating the lethal effects of Oredo crude oil. Although, P. vaginatum recovery was apparent 70 days after AC pollution and after cleaning with Goldcrew (A24GCand A48GC), both treatments resulted in significant (P <0.05) lower biomass and stem density compared to control. It is concluded that plants cleaned with Goldcrew dispersant after 24 h recovered faster than those cleaned after 48 h. Exposure of P. vaginatum to light crude oil or light crude oil + Corexit 9527 is detrimental and can inhibit growth where as it will recover when exposed to heavy crude oil or heavy crude oil + Goldcrew.

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Changes of Heart Rate and Lipid Composition in Mytilus Edulis and Modiolus Modiolus Caused by Crude Oil Pollution and Low Salinity Effects

Journal of Xenobiotics ◽

10.3390/jox11020004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 46-60

Author(s):

Igor Bakhmet ◽

Natalia Fokina ◽

Tatiana Ruokolainen

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Crude Oil ◽

Mytilus Edulis ◽

Lipid Composition ◽

Oil Pollution ◽

Cardiac Activity ◽

Blue Mussels ◽

Low Salinity ◽

Crude Oil Pollution ◽

Modiolus Modiolus

Blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, inhabiting tidal zones, are naturally exposed to fluctuating environmental conditions (e.g., fluctuations in temperature and salinities), while horse mussels, Modiolus modiolus, live under relatively invariable shelf water conditions. The present investigation tested the hypothesis: blue mussels, in comparison to horse mussels, have an increased ability to tolerate the stress of pollution combined with low salinity. To assess the response of blue mussels and horse mussels to oil pollution at seawater salinities of 25 psu (normal) and 15 psu (low), we used a combination of heart rate and lipid composition as physiological and biochemical indicators, respectively. A sharp decrease in heart rate as well as important fluctuations in cardiac activity was observed under all oil concentrations. Modifications in the concentrations of the main membrane lipid classes (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and cholesterol) and storage lipids (primarily triacylglycerols) in response to different crude oil concentrations were time- and dose-dependent. Both chosen indicators showed a high sensitivity to crude oil contamination. Furthermore, both bivalve species showed similar responses to oil pollution, suggesting a universal mechanism for biochemical adaptation to crude oil pollution.

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