Mozafar Sharifi - Razi University Center for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Kermanshah
Hamid Reza Ghassemi - Razi University Center for Environmental Studies, Kermanshah

In order to evaluate the long-term (30 day) influence of Nickel on productivity in algal periphyton communities, indoor artificial streams were used with differing Nickel concentration (2.5, 5 and 7.5 mg.l-1). The effects of Nickel on community productivity were assessed by measuring biomass, ash-free dry mass (AFDM), chlorophyll-a and the rate of Nickel absorption. In artificial streams with Nickel, there was a significant (p<0.05) reduction of chlorophyll-a, AFDM, but not dry mass under the influence of Nickel. These observations suggest that productivity of periphyton community could serve as a biological indicator of nickel pollution.

artificial stream, biomass, chlorophyll-a, periphyton, Nickel