RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Phytoplankton Abundance
Figure 1 shows the genus abundance of phytoplankton across concentrations. A
decreasing trend was observed in the genus abundance as the concentration of the crude oil
increased. Genus Abundance of the group prior to exposure with crude oil was shown to be
significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to the genus abundance of the control and the
treatments after 48 hours exposure to crude oil.

Figure 1. Genus abundance of phytoplankton across crude oil

concenrations.

There was a significant difference among all the four treatments compared to the control
(p<0.05). 6 ppm had a significant difference on the 24 ppm and 48 ppm (p<0.05). On the other
hand, there was no significant difference between the 6 ppm and 12 ppm treatments (p>0.05)
as well as between the 24 ppm and 48 ppm (p>0.05). Results showed that the groups with
crude oil had the lower abundance compared to the group without crude oil. In results of the
experimental study by Huang et al. (2011) results showed that high concentrations of crude oil
of 2.28 mg/L have been shown to inhibit greatly phytoplankton growth and decreased
chlorophyll a and cell density. The significant decrease in abundance of the phytoplankton by

the added crude oil can be attributed to inhibition of food consumption (Miller et al., 1978). Since
this study was in a controlled ecosystem, nutrient supply may have been limited for the
phytoplankton.

The habitat change, having an unfavourable effect on the phytoplankton

species, could be linked to the transition between the marine environment enriched with
nutrients and the controlled systems with limited nutrient supply (Barron 2002).
Another study by (Miller et al., 1978), crude oil concentration of 5mg/L showed to inhibit
photosynthesis within 24 hours stating that hydrocarbons in crude oil had adversely affect
biochemical factors such as protein, and sugar contents and photosynthetic pigments
(chlorophyll a and b) of phytoplankton cells. The effects of crude oil on the phytoplankton
abundance showed toxicological effects of crude oil to these organisms thus signifying that
crude oil input into the coastal waters is a risk factor to ecological status (Adekunle 2010).
Phytoplankton Richness and Density

Species richness diversity index measures the total number of taxon (e.g. species,
genus, family, order, class, and/or phylum) in a given community. A total of 35 genera of marine
Phytoplankton belonging to 26 families, 20 orders, and 4 classes were identified prior to
exposure of the crude oil (0 hour) and across concentrations. Figure 2 depicts the comparison
of the richness of the phytoplankton species across different taxa on each crude oil
concentration prior to exposure of crude oil and 48 hours after exposure. Richness diversity
index showed a significant difference (p<0.05) among the different crude oil concentrations
across taxa. The richness of the treatments across taxa after 48 hours exposure to crude oil
were significantly higher than group prior to exposure of crude oil. Conversely, the control group
(0ppm) showed no significant difference (p>0.05).
Figure 2 also shows the comparison of the richness across the difference crude oil
concentrations on each taxon. In the genus, family, and order taxa richness in the 0 ppm

showed a significant difference (p<0.05) across other treatments with crude oil. 6 ppm and 12
ppm did not have a significant difference (p>0.05) but both crude oil concentrations have a
significant difference on the 12 pmm and 48 ppm respectively. In addition, the 24 ppm and 48
ppm did not have a significant difference (p>0.05).

Figure 2 . Phytoplankton Richness of the different taxa across crude oil concentration

Figure 3 shows the relative density of the representing classes. Class Bacillariophyceae
was best represented having a total of 25 genera with a total of 1793 cells/L. On the other hand,
class Dinophyceae have 9 genera with 1113 cells/L while class Cyanophyceae only have one
genus. Class Bacillariophyceae, the diatoms, dominate in the control group and across all crude

oil concentrations. In the 6 ppm treatment, the diatoms that were found were Cerataulina,
Coscinodiscus, Dactyliosolen, Guinardia, Gyrosigma, Leptocylindrus, Licmophora, Melosira,
Navicula, Odontella, Pseudosolenia, and Rhizoslenia. The diatoms present in the 12 ppm were
Cerataulina, Coscinodiscus, Dactyliosolen, Leptocylindrus, Licmophora, Melosira, Navicula,
Odontella, Pseudosolenia, Rhizoslenia and Thalassiothrix. At 24 ppm and 48 ppm, diatoms
were the only group present. Five genera were found in the 24 ppm treatment. These are
Coscinodiscus, Licmophora, Navicula, Rhizosolenia, and Guinardia. The diatoms found in the
48 ppm were Coscinodiscus, Pseudosolenia, Rhizoslenia, and Skeletonema.

The dominance by diatoms was in line with a laboratory study conducted by Adekunle et
al. (2010) on the effects on some phytoplankton species after 42 hours exposure to Nigerian
crude oil after, results showed a relative abundance ranged from 2 to 516 cell/mL and consisted
mostly of 83.33% diatoms and 16.67% dinoflagellates. The diatoms species were Coscnodiscus
centralis,

Asterionellopis

glacialis,

Thalassionema

frauenfeldii,

Odontella

mobiliensis,

Chaetocero mitra, Rhizosolenia imbricate, Bacellaria paxillifera, Cerataulina palegica, Navicula

spp, Pleurosigma spp. The dinoflagellates on the other hand were Ditylum spp and Ceratium
trichoceros. The mortality of the phytoplankton due to the Nigerian crude oil increased with
concentration of oil irrespective of the exposure period. Additionally, the results of the study
revealed that the resistance to crude oil toxicity varied with phytoplankton species.
The dominance of diatoms in the present study may be attributed to the study of Creveld et
al. (2015) stating that diatoms are ubiquitous marine photosynthetic eukaryotes and are one of
the most common types of phytoplankton (Wang et al 2006). They are responsible for about
20% of global photosynthesis (Creveld et al. 2015). Furthermore they are mostly unicellular,
green in color; can be identified in the microscope by their highly ornamented silicified cell walls,
known as frustules (Saade 2009).

Figure 3. Class distribution according to their relative density

Diversity
Shannon-Weiner diversity index was used to test the phytoplankton diversity. Figure 4
demonstrates the diversity values across crude oil concentrations among the different taxa.
Only the control group (0 ppm) showed no significant difference (p>0.05) on the group at 0 hour.
Across taxa only the class showed a significant different difference (p<0.05) on the crude oil
concentrations at 24 ppm and 48 ppm. Across treatments 0 ppm, 6 ppm, and 12 ppm did not
have a significant difference (p>0.05) among them but showed a significant difference (p<0.05)
on the 24 ppm and 48 ppm.

Figure 4. Shannon-Weiner diversity index across crude oil concentrations among the different taxa