Guardialao, Sheena, Janagap, Steve, Sagge, Phoebe Joy (February 1999)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
The toxicity of detergent and commercial fertilizer to guppy , Poecilia reticulata, was determined in terms of percent mortality rate in which at least 50 percent of guppies died.
Different concentration of detergent, fertilizer, and combination of both detergent and fertilizer were introduced to the test organisms, guppy, Poecilia reticulata. Everyday, 2 milligrams of each substance was introduced to the guppies in contained in a liter of. This concentration was determined through the range finding test conducted before the experiment.
Concentrations above 8 milligrams per liter has significant effects to the test organisms. The mid-lethal concentration for detergent was found to be 12 mg/L. For the fertilizer, the mid-lethal concentration was 32 to 34 mg/L while 22 to 24 mg/L for both detergent and fertilizer combined in the same proportion.
Different water quality parameters such as pH which measures the acidity of water, salinity for the salt content, conductivity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen (DO) were determined. Fishes were observed in terms of color, breathing, swimming and opercula movement.
Used guppies, Poecilia reticulata, had an average length of 1.2 inches +_sd 0.4 and had an average weight of 1.3 grams +_sd 0.5.