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Quantification of Heavy Metals and Other Inorganic Contaminants on the Productivity of Microalgae
Published on: July 10, 2015
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A COMPOSITE RATING OF ALGAE TOLERATING ORGANIC POLLUTION(2)
1Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, Advanced Waste Treatment Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of the Interior, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.
Journal of Phycology
|April 21, 2016
Summary
This study identifies key pollution-tolerant algae genera and species, including Euglena and Oscillatoria, to help assess water quality. These findings establish algal pollution indices for rating organic pollution in water samples.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Algae are sensitive indicators of water quality.
- Identifying pollution-tolerant species aids in biomonitoring.
- Previous research has documented various algae in polluted waters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compile and identify significant pollution-tolerant algal genera and species.
- To develop algal pollution indices for assessing organic pollution in water samples.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of 165 author reports on pollution-tolerant algae.
- Analysis of reported significant algal genera and species.
- Development of genus and species pollution indices.
Main Results:
- Diatoms, pigmented flagellates, green, and blue-green algae are well-represented.
- Top genera: Euglena, Oscillatoria, Chlamydomonas, Scenedesmus, Chlorella, Nitzschia, Navicula, Stigeoclonium.
- Top species: Euglena viridis, Nitzschia palea, Oscillatoria limosa, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Oscillatoria tennis.
Conclusions:
- A stable series of pollution-tolerant algal genera and species has been identified.
- Specific species within genera like Euglena and Oscillatoria show high significance.
- Algal pollution indices provide a tool for rating water samples with high organic pollution.
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