Growth responses of Typha latifolia and Scirpus acutus to atrazine contamination

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology 1996-08, Vol.57 (2), p.307-314
• Main Authors: LANGAN, M. M, HOAGLAND, K. D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: altura; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; atrazina; atrazine; Atrazine - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; contaminacion; contaminantes; contamination; crecimiento; croissance; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi; escorrentia; fitotoxicidad; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; growth; hauteur; height; Herbicides - pharmacology; phytotoxicite; phytotoxicity; Plant Development; Plants - drug effects; polluant; pollutants; ruissellement; runoff; scirpus; terre humide; tierras humedas; Time Factors; typha; Water Pollutants, Chemical - pharmacology; wetlands
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s001289900191

The effects of atrazine on the growth of 2 major wetland macrophytes, broad-leaved cattail (Typha latifolia) and hardstem bulrush (Scirpus acutus), were investigated. Plants were exposed to at concentrations of 0-1500 ug atrazine per litre for 16 weeks or a decontamination treatment in which the water from a previously contaminated 500 ug atrazine per litre treatment was replaced with distilled water after 2 weeks to simulate a wetland dilution event. For S. acutus, plant height was inhibited at concentrations of 500 and 1500 ug atrazine per litre. It was able to recover after short-term exposure to atrazine. T. latifolia growth was inhibited by concentrations of 1500 ug atrazine per litre from week 6. S. acutus reached its greatest height at 12 weeks, while T. latifolia reached its greatest height at 8 weeks. Wetland macrophytes may not tolerate herbicide contamination equally. There are 31 references.