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ABSTRACT
A comparative assessment of the effect of different concentrations of crude oil and diesel water soluble fractions (0%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) on the fresh water algae Chlorella vulgaris and Coelastum microporum was conducted. The experiment was carried out in a laboratory setting over a period of 14 days. The peak growth response for both algal species when treated with the WSF of crude oil and diesel was noticed on day 6 with the only exception being the treatment of diesel WSF on Chlorella vulgaris where a death phase was observed on the same day. After the peak on Day 6, the decline phase was observed for the other treatments. Growth inhibition was observed in the different concentrations of crude oil and diesel WSF with Chlorella vulgaris except in the 10% treatment where a stimulatory trend was noticed. Conversely, the growth response observed in both treatments with Coelastrum microporum, was an alternating pattern of stimulation and inhibition in the same concentrations. Of the two species, Coelastrum microporum yielded better growth response and the stimulatory response observed in 100% WSF concentration of diesel in Coelastrum microporum is an indicator of the remedial properties of the alga. The result of this mesocosm experiment shows that, crude oil and diesel have an impact on the microalgae present in freshwater bodies and may result in the disruption of the delicate balance that exists within such ecosystems.
