| Atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) is an herbicide that is widely used throughout the world in major crop agriculture because it is effective in blocking photosynthesis in broadleaf and grassy weeds. It is a member of the triazine family of organic compounds that have become extremely controversial due to contamination concerns in waterways and drinking water supplies. A variety of studies have been conducted to evaluate the prevalence, severity, and effects of atrazine levels in various water sources and the impact this may have on human, animal, and plant life. The Mississippi River watershed contains the region with the highest atrazine usage per acre of agricultural land in the U.S., and this chemical presumably enters the river system through runoff thus affecting the marine ecosystem, particularly submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV). The degree that aquatic plants are affected is a topic which needs to be explored further. Data for atrazine levels and the prevalence of SAV are made available by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Atrazine levels and percentage of SAV during 2007 were analyzed using ArcGIS (Geographic Information System) software and the resulting maps displayed an inconclusive visual relationship. An examination of Mississippi River Pools 4, 8, and 13 shown to contain moderate atrazine levels were compared to the density of SAV in each pool. Results from a linear regression analysis indicate that a decreasing level of atrazine intensity between 1998 and 2007 corresponded to an increasing density of SAV. |
