Abstract:

This experiment was carried out in a custom designed ultraviolet (UV) transparent Plexiglas box and the cultures of three Prorocentrum species (P. texanum, P. minimum and P. gracile) were placed in 1L of L1 media within separate 2L quartz glass conical flasks. Each treatment and the control were tested in triplicate. It tested the effect of a full light spectrum (Photosynthetically available radiance (PAR)+UVA+UVB) and a full light spectrum minus UVB (PAR+UVA) on the Prorocentrum spp. over a 72 hour period with a dispersed (oil: dispersant ratio of 1:20) oil treatment of 10ppm. UVB penetration through the quartz glass flasks was prevented using Mylar-D foil.

Suggested Citation:

Cosgrove, Sarah. 2020. The effect of ultraviolet B light on Prorocentrum spp. following exposure to chemically dispersed crude oil. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/1FAZ3RN3

Publications:

Quigg, A., Parsons, M., Bargu, S., Ozhan, K., Daly, K. L., Chakraborty, S., … Buskey, E. J. (2021). Marine phytoplankton responses to oil and dispersant exposures: Knowledge gained since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 164, 112074. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112074

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of ultraviolet B (UVB) on three different species of the dinoflagellate genus Prorocentrum following exposure to dispersed crude oil. It is of interest to know whether increased UV levels during the time of an oil spill can increase the toxicity of the oil compounds to phytoplankton species.

Data Parameters and Units:

The headers are Species, Treatment (Control, 10ppm, 10ppm-UVB), Date (M/DD/YYYY), Time (hrs 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72), Density/ml, Mortality/ growth %, AVG (average), and Standard Dev. (standard deviation)

Methods:

Two treatments and a control were set up in a Plexiglass box receiving natural levels of UV over a four-day period. Ultraviolet B (UVB) was eliminated in one of the treatments using Mylar-D foil, whereas the other treatment received the full light spectrum. Samples were collected and preserved every 12 hours and cell densities were calculated by placing a 1ml sample in a sedgewick rafter cell and counted via microscopy. Triplicate samples were analyzed.

Instruments:

ultraviolet light

Individual Files: