Population Growth Analysis Using Lemna Minor in Hoagland’s Solution

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Jeremy Baarsma 3-13-2014 Ecology Lab Lemna Minor Experiment Population Growth Analysis using Lemna Minor in Hoagland’s Solution Introduction: Lemna minor (L. minor), more commonly known as duckweed, is a member of the Lemnaceae family and is the smallest rapid-growing flowering plant on earth (Monette et al. 2006). L. minor is a very small aquatic plant ranging from 1-15mm in size found free floating on the surface of eutrophic still waters. L. minor is ideal for population growth experiments due to low maintenance, quick reproduction, and minimal growth space requirement. The duckweed plant has a thallus that is composed of small leaf like structure called fronds (circular lobes) which attach to a single rootlet that resides below the surface of the water (Scheffer et al. 2003). L. minor multiplies by developing new thalli around the edges of the leaf, resulting in clumps. On average fronds can live around four to five weeks (Monette et al. 2006). Other companies utilize duckweed in another way, by removing the nitrogen and phosphorus from the wastewaters making the L. minor act as a natural filter relieving clogged waterways. L. minor is also used to remove heavy ions such as chromium, from wastewaters. Anthropogenic activities are a primary cause of heavy metal pollution amongst aquatic systems. Chromium is one of these heavy metals, and a widespread contaminant entering the air, water and soil environment by different industrial activities such as iron and steel manufacturing, chrome leather, chromium plating, wood preservation and other anthropogenic sources (Uysal 2013). Duckweeds applications seem to have an endless potential towards environmental benefits and have provided answers to why they are viable for population growth experiments. The plant population increases rapidly covering the surface of still water in a brief period of time.

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