Authors : Asmida Ismail, Nurul Farhana Arbain, Noor Akmal Wahab, Ahmad Ismail and Siti Khairiyah Mohd Hatta
Abstract: Terrestrial algae, one of the many important living things for the earth’s ecosystem are abundant in large spectrum such as on tree barks, stones, walls and plastics. The objectives of this research were to assess the effect of shading towards the number of algal cells inhabiting 30 free standing trees. Besides that this study also looks into the number of algal cells in polluted and unpolluted environment. The results of this study showed that epiphytic terrestrial algae were found to grow abundantly in polluted environment as opposed to unpolluted ones. The algae are believed to be able to tolerate high amount of air pollutants such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and many nitrogenous gases. Shading also appeared to influence the number of algal cells where the area with less shade provide better living ground for the algae. The number of algae is directly proportional to the amount of light they received. Therefore, this study provides a useful baseline data on some pollutant-tolerant algal species.
Asmida Ismail, Nurul Farhana Arbain, Noor Akmal Wahab, Ahmad Ismail and Siti Khairiyah Mohd Hatta, 2015. Air Pollution and Shading as Possible Factor Affecting Number of Algal Cells (Chlorophyta: Coccomyxa confluens). Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 9: 99-104.