Abstract
Abstract The influence of anthropogenic discharges on the environment is an increasing concern among environmental toxicologists. This investigation set out to analyse the impacts of selected herbicides; diuron, terbuthylazine and isoproturon on two strains of Ectocarpus siliculosus with different pollution histories, LIA4 and Es524. Evaluation of their effects on photochemical quenching (qP) and non-photochemical quenching (qN) indicators have demonstrated negative impacts of all herbicides on both strains. From the results, diuron shows to exert significant negative effect at concentration as low as 5 µg L−1 followed by terbuthylazine at 10 µg L−1 (qP) and 5 µg L−1 (qN), and isoproturon at 100 µg L−1 (qP) and 50 µg L−1 (qN). Non-photochemical quenching (qN) indicator was found to exhibit greater sensitivity to the herbicides compared to photochemical quenching (qP). In both strains of E. siliculosus, the three herbicides were ranked in order of toxicity: diuron > terbuthylazine > isoproturon. This investigation provides new information on ecotoxicology of herbicides towards brown algae.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
