Oil Effect on Duckweed

Duckweed is world's smallest flowering plant.

Duckweed is an aquatic plant that grows floating in slow-moving or still bodies of fresh water. Lemna, one of the best-known duckweeds, grows at a rapid rate. When exposed to oil, duckweed is affected in the same way as other aquatic plants.

Impeded Growth

Oil impedes the growth of aquatic plants including duckweed by cutting off its exposure to sunlight and air. This makes photosynthesis -- the process plants use to make food -- almost impossible. The germination and growth of duckweed is hampered or stops entirely when it is covered in oil.

Algae Production

While oil impedes the survival of some aquatic plants, it can sometimes aid in the growth and formation of algae. A surge in the production of algae typically affects the growth of local duckweed plants in a negative way, as quick-growing, widespread populations of algae obstruct and usurp areas usually occupied by other aquatic plants.

Long-Term Effects

Oil is able to persist in an environment for up to 30 years after a spill. Over time, oil spills left uncleaned cause long-term damage to aquatic plants and wildlife. If spilled oil isn't removed from the water entirely, duckweed and other aquatic plants may never fully recover.

References

• Missouri Botanical Gardent: The Charms of Duckweed
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Effects of Oil Spills on Wildlife & Habitat