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¹ Federal University of Technology, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, PMB Akure Nigeria
² Extension Research and /Liasion Services, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Lagos Nigeria DOI : 10.4194/2618-6381-v18_1_03 Viewed : 19236 - Downloaded : 3858 This research was conducted to evaluate the toxicity effects of atrazine on Clarias gariepinus juveniles. C. gariepinus were purchased from Fish Farm in Akure and acclimated prior to toxicity tests for seven days in concrete tanks. The fishes were fed with commercial feed twice daily and stopped 24hrs to the commencement of the toxicity test. Different concentrations of atrazine were prepared (0.00, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 and 0.30 ml/L) in triplicate. Fifteen (15) C. gariepinus juveniles (20±0.6 g and 15.15±0.5 cm) were randomly distributed into each glass tank (60 x 30 x 40 cm3) containing ten litres of treatment concentrations. Mortality, water parameters (DO2, pH, Temp and Conductivity) etc. were monitored at regular time interval (24, 48, 72 and 96 hours). Also, enzymes activities (Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Lactate Dehydrogense (LDH)) in fish exposed to atrazine were also measured There was fluctuation in the values of water parameters with abnormal behaviours increased with increasing concentration of atrazine across the treatment groups. The LC50 was 0.183ml/l for 96 hours exposure period.

There were significant (P<0.05) differences in AST, LDH, and ALT activities in the fish exposed to increasing atrazine across the treatment relative to control. Keywords : Herbicide, Atrazine toxicity, Clarias gariepinus, Behaviour response, Water parameter, Blood biomarker