Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Effects Of Diesel-Fuel And Copper Contaminants On Benthic Microalgae, Soraya Silva

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Salt marshes are dynamic, highly productive habitats and serve as nursery grounds for many commercially and economically important species. Benthic microalgae (BMA) are considered an important food source for benthos and provide the principal source of nutrition that fuels secondary production. Estuarine sediments around the world are a repository for many contaminants from anthropogenic sources. In particular, hydrocarbons and metals are ubiquitous contaminants in coastal systems. The primary goal of this study was to study the effects of diesel fuel and copper, alone and in combination, on the BMA assemblage from a coastal salt marsh. To achieve this objective, salt …