Effects of Multiple Stressors on Freshwater Microalgae: A microcosm Assay
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Mathew Schuler
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2024 9:45 AM
End Date
26-4-2024 10:44 AM
Description
Chemical contaminants in freshwater bodies entering from diverse sources are increasing. These pollutants have the potential to alter the life cycle of primary producers, which can affect energy transfer across trophic levels and overall ecosystem stability. The study aimed to elucidate the effects of multiple stressors on freshwater ecosystems. We primarily investigated the environmentally relevant concentrations of chlorinated herbicide Atrazine (10 μgL-1), a type II pyrethroid insecticide Cypermethrin (20 μgL-1), chronic and acute concentrations of road deicer NaCl (230mgL-1 and 860mgL-1) and their mixtures on the water quality and growth of a primary producer, Chlorella vulgaris. The results exhibited both synergistic and antagonistic effects in terms of water quality parameters and the growth of the microalgae. Both the independent and interactive effects of atrazine and cypermethrin significantly reduced the nitrate and phosphate concentrations in water. The road salt NaCl alone induced a significant increase in conductivity (EC) in water compared to the control and independent effects of pesticides. However, we did not observe any significant differences in dissolved oxygen production or the pH of water among treatments. When combined, both pesticides significantly increased the cell density and growth of Chlorella vulgaris. In contrast, the algal growth declined with the high concentration of NaCl (860mgL-1). Additionally, compared to other independent effects, atrazine alone increased the Chl-a concentration in algae. We did not observe any synergistic effect of NaCl on algal growth when combined with pesticides. The research would expand our understanding of the consequences of anthropogenic stressors on freshwater ecosystems.
Effects of Multiple Stressors on Freshwater Microalgae: A microcosm Assay
Chemical contaminants in freshwater bodies entering from diverse sources are increasing. These pollutants have the potential to alter the life cycle of primary producers, which can affect energy transfer across trophic levels and overall ecosystem stability. The study aimed to elucidate the effects of multiple stressors on freshwater ecosystems. We primarily investigated the environmentally relevant concentrations of chlorinated herbicide Atrazine (10 μgL-1), a type II pyrethroid insecticide Cypermethrin (20 μgL-1), chronic and acute concentrations of road deicer NaCl (230mgL-1 and 860mgL-1) and their mixtures on the water quality and growth of a primary producer, Chlorella vulgaris. The results exhibited both synergistic and antagonistic effects in terms of water quality parameters and the growth of the microalgae. Both the independent and interactive effects of atrazine and cypermethrin significantly reduced the nitrate and phosphate concentrations in water. The road salt NaCl alone induced a significant increase in conductivity (EC) in water compared to the control and independent effects of pesticides. However, we did not observe any significant differences in dissolved oxygen production or the pH of water among treatments. When combined, both pesticides significantly increased the cell density and growth of Chlorella vulgaris. In contrast, the algal growth declined with the high concentration of NaCl (860mgL-1). Additionally, compared to other independent effects, atrazine alone increased the Chl-a concentration in algae. We did not observe any synergistic effect of NaCl on algal growth when combined with pesticides. The research would expand our understanding of the consequences of anthropogenic stressors on freshwater ecosystems.