Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Gilchrist, Sandra

Keywords

Native Florida Plants, Yellow Canna, Canna flaccida, Oil Spill, Bioremediation

Area of Concentration

Environmental Science

Abstract

Oil spills are a big ecological concern and multiple ways of remediating them have been researched. In this study, I look at a Florida native plant, yellow canna (Canna flaccida), using mineral oil as a proxy for motor oils. Effects were measured by examining wet and dry biomass as well as laboratory analysis of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Plants were placed into one of 5 levels (1 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL, 100 mL and an untreated control) with 7 plants per level for a total of 35 plants, as well as a soil control for each. The ability of yellow canna to be an effective bioremediatior was the focus of the inquiry. This study suggests that C. flaccida shows promise as a remediator for oil due to oil uptake into the roots, particularly in conjunction with other plants, such as in a created wetland. Remediation effects, though small, were present and most C. flaccida survived even in doses 100x normal contamination.

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