Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

Neha Upreti ¹, Shweta Sharma ², Subhasini Sharma ², K. P. Sharma ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302 004, IN
2 Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302 004, IN

Abstract

Aluminium and fluoride were found toxic to phytoplankton, periphyton and zooplankton in the microcosms raised in the greenhouse. The toxicity of aluminium was relatively higher than fluoride, more particularly, during winter season. There were significant reduction in counts of phytoplankton (49-80%), periphyton (algae = 40-68%, zooplankton = 35-75%) and zooplankton (5-77%) in the treatments in comparison to controls. As a result, Reciprocal Simpson index, Equitability index and Shannon- Weiner index decreased. Such changes will affect energy flow in the microcosms.

Keywords

Aluminum, Fluoride, Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, Microcosms.

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Shraddha Jain ¹, Shweta Sharma ², Aruna Rajawat ¹, Neha Upreti ¹, Subhasini Sharma ², K. P. Sharma ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302 055, Rajasthan, IN
2 Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302 055, Rajasthan, IN

Abstract

During acute toxicity study of aluminium fluoride, Daphnia similis L. was found to be the most sensitive organism (EC₅₀ = 108.06 ppm) followed by Gambusia affinis Baird and Gerard (LC₅₀ = 354.0 ppm) and Lemna aequinoctialis L. (EC₅₀ for chlorophyll = 358.7ppm). The exposure (60 days) of producers and consumers at its sub-lethal concentration (35.4 ppm) casted toxic effects on them in artificial microcosms raised in the greenhouse. There was reduction in chlorophyll content (19-39%), dry weight (16%), acid phosphatase (ACP) (56%), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (14%) and protein content (53%) of Ceratophyllum demersum L. The reduction in species richness (40%) and phytoplankton counts (counts = 47-54%) was significant during the study period while zooplankton counts (30%) in the first half of the study (day-30). Snail mortality was found nil while that of fish was moderate (37%). Their tissue biochemistry (ACP, ALP and protein content) was, however, altered significantly suggesting them to be under stress. AlF₃ also had cytotoxic effects in fish decreasing RBC counts (19%) and causing morphological abnormalities. From these findings, we conclude that there are significant toxic effects of aluminium fluoride to organisms in the food web of aquatic ecosystems.

Keywords

Acute and Chronic Toxicity, Aluminum Fluoride, Microcosm, Plankton, Snail, Fish.

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Suresh Kumar ¹, Pawan Kumar ¹, Shweta Sharma ², Pradeep Kumar Sharma ¹, Subhasini ², K. P. Sharma ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302 004, Rajasthan, IN
2 Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302 004, Rajasthan, IN

Abstract

The effects of texture, aeration, inorganic (PO₄-P and NO₃-N) and organic (milk whey) nutrients are reported here on degradation and decolourisation of methyl red. The effects have been quantified by comparing UV-visible spectra of untreated and treated 100ppm of the dye in two types of fixed film bioreactors that differed in composition of their solid matrix (one containing gravel only, gravel bed; while the other has gravel + coarse river sand, mixed bed). Methyl red degradation was better in gravel bed reactors in comparison to mixed bed reactors. Aeration improved its degradation in both the types of reactors. Nutrients favoured reduction in bandwidth of spectra in near UV region (hence degradation of benzenoid compounds) in outflows from gravel (non-aerated and aerated) and mixed bed (aerated) bioreactors, while an opposite trend was noted for their OD values in far UV and visible region responsible for the colour. Mixed bed (non-aerated) bioreactor was, however, the exception, where inorganic nutrients, especially NO₃-N improved reduction of bandwidth as well as OD values in the spectra of outflows.

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