Effect of crude oil on the growth and reproduction of some benthic marine algae of Visakhapatnam coastline

Experiments were conducted with 14 species of marine algae of Visakhapatnam to assess the impact of crude oil on their growth, survival and reproductive potential. Growth inhibition was found in all the algae exposed to 0.02 ppm of crude oil and the tolerance limits of green, brown and red algae varied. Spore liberation and germination rate in Padina tetrastromatica, Dictyota dichotoma, Hypnea valentiae and Gracilaria corticata decreased from 0.1 ppm crude oil, with 90 to 100% reduction in spore shedding at 10 ppm crude oil level. When seawater soluble fraction of crude oil was tested on Enteromorpha compressa and P. tetrastromatica, growth and reproductive activity were observed at 80 or 100 ppm level.