Udofia Udeme. U., Andem Andem. B. and Okorafor Kalu. A.
The acute toxicity of Qua Iboe Light Crude oil on tadpole of frog, Rana temporaria was studied. A total of ten (10) tadpoles each were grouped into seven (7) test vessels and held for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours in six (6) different concentrations of Qua Iboe Light Crude oil (0.313, 0.625, 1.25, 2.50, 5.00 and 10ppm) and was compared with control (0.00ppm). Toxicity measurements based on 96 hour-LC50 showed that the LC50 value with 95% confidence limits of Qua Iboe Light Crude oil on Rana temporaria is (1.637±0.105). The manifestation and survival time was found to be concentration dependent decreasing with increase in concentration. All the time-effect relationship was found to be concentration dependent. The concentration mortality relationship showed significantly (p<0.05) high coefficient of determination, R2 of 0.96. Toxicant exposure induced behavioural changes such as abnormal and uncoordinated swimming movement. The relatively low LC50 determined from this work indicates that Qua Iboe Light Crude oil can have both lethal and Sub lethal effects on wide range of Organisms including frog and may pose some significant problems to the environment especially the aquatic environment. The highly active nature of Qua Iboe Light Crude oil and implication on aquatic life is discussed in this text.
