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 Visakhap atnam to assess the impact of crude oil on their growth, survival and reproductive potential. Growth inhibition was found in all the algae e xposed to 0.02 ppm of crude oil and the tolerance limits of green, bro wn and red algae varied. Spore liberation and germination rate in Padi na tetrastromatica, Dictyota dichotoma, Hypnea valentiae and Gracilari a corticata decreased from 0.1 ppm crude oil, with 90 to 100% reductio n in spore shedding at 10 ppm crude oil level. When seawater soluble f raction of crude oil was tested on Enteromorpha compressa and P. tetra stromatica, growth and reproductive activity were observed at 80 or 10 0 ppm level.