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Bacteria, Carbon Dioxide and Algal Blooms L. E. KUENTZEL, Research Associate Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation Wyandotte, Michigan INTRODUCTION A recent literature survey on the subject of lake eutrophication, and algal blooms and nutrients as causative factors, reveals that there is a decided lack of published information on the role of the major nutrient carbon dioxide (C02). Great emphasis is placed on phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) as causative agents in the production of unwanted algal growths, yet a satisfactory accounting for the source of the tremendous amounts of C02 required for massive algal blooms has not been found in the literature. The purposes of this paper are 1) to provide some logistics on C02 requirements for such blooms, 2) to establish the fact that such quantities of C02 are not available from the atmosphere and dissolved salts, and 3) to point out the role played by bacteria and decomposable organic matter (much from man-made sources and thus controllable) in supplying the C02. Such information may permit situations to be recognized where C02 is the limiting nutrient, or can be made the limiting nutrient, in the control of massive algal blooms. Then, control of organic pollution as well as N and P can receive appropriate consideration in algal bloom reduction programs. BACTERIA AND BLUE-GREEN ALGAE - A MUTUALISTIC SYMBIOSIS? College textbooks reveal that blue-green algae (Phylum Cyanophyta) and bacteria (Phylum Schizophyta) are descendents of the most ancient and primitive of living creatures. Yet, in spite of some two bil yr of evolutionary history, they are still the simplest and least evolved of all living organisms. If "survival of the fittest" has any place in evolution, we are attempting to deal with a very "fit" species in blue-green algae and should not be surprised if the task is a difficult one. Moreover, since there are reported to be 2,500 different species of cyanophyta widely distributed in nature and capable of healthy growth under widely differing conditions, we can expect nuisance growths at any time conditions foster a "population explosion." Measures taken to eliminate one species may produce optimum conditions for encouraging a different species to take its place. Also, it is fundamental that aerobic bacteria require oxygen to degrade organic matter and produce C02, that algae require C02 to photosynthesize organic matter and produce oxygen, and that both aerobic bacteria and algae require similar environments of temperature and minor nutrient concentrations to grow properly. This is a nearly perfect mutualistic symbiosis that has been going on for millions of years. Once established in a given body of water, such a cycle would be difficult to break so long as temperatures approach optimum and the sun continues to shine. This must nearly be the situation in Lake Erie's western basin where, according to Harlow (1), algae produce nearly - 1028 -
Object Description
Purdue Identification Number | ETRIWC1969072 |
Title | Bacteria, carbon dioxide and algal blooms |
Author | Kuentzel, L. E. |
Date of Original | 1969 |
Conference Title | Proceedings of the 24th Industrial Waste Conference |
Conference Front Matter (copy and paste) | http://earchives.lib.purdue.edu/u?/engext,16392 |
Extent of Original | p. 1028-1039 |
Series | Engineering extension series no. 135 |
Collection Title | Engineering Technical Reports Collection, Purdue University |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Rights Statement | Digital object copyright Purdue University. All rights reserved. |
Language | eng |
Type (DCMI) | text |
Format | JP2 |
Date Digitized | 2009-05-21 |
Capture Device | Fujitsu fi-5650C |
Capture Details | ScandAll 21 |
Resolution | 300 ppi |
Color Depth | 8 bit |
Description
Title | page 1028 |
Collection Title | Engineering Technical Reports Collection, Purdue University |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Rights Statement | Digital object copyright Purdue University. All rights reserved. |
Language | eng |
Type (DCMI) | text |
Format | JP2 |
Capture Device | Fujitsu fi-5650C |
Capture Details | ScandAll 21 |
Transcript | Bacteria, Carbon Dioxide and Algal Blooms L. E. KUENTZEL, Research Associate Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation Wyandotte, Michigan INTRODUCTION A recent literature survey on the subject of lake eutrophication, and algal blooms and nutrients as causative factors, reveals that there is a decided lack of published information on the role of the major nutrient carbon dioxide (C02). Great emphasis is placed on phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) as causative agents in the production of unwanted algal growths, yet a satisfactory accounting for the source of the tremendous amounts of C02 required for massive algal blooms has not been found in the literature. The purposes of this paper are 1) to provide some logistics on C02 requirements for such blooms, 2) to establish the fact that such quantities of C02 are not available from the atmosphere and dissolved salts, and 3) to point out the role played by bacteria and decomposable organic matter (much from man-made sources and thus controllable) in supplying the C02. Such information may permit situations to be recognized where C02 is the limiting nutrient, or can be made the limiting nutrient, in the control of massive algal blooms. Then, control of organic pollution as well as N and P can receive appropriate consideration in algal bloom reduction programs. BACTERIA AND BLUE-GREEN ALGAE - A MUTUALISTIC SYMBIOSIS? College textbooks reveal that blue-green algae (Phylum Cyanophyta) and bacteria (Phylum Schizophyta) are descendents of the most ancient and primitive of living creatures. Yet, in spite of some two bil yr of evolutionary history, they are still the simplest and least evolved of all living organisms. If "survival of the fittest" has any place in evolution, we are attempting to deal with a very "fit" species in blue-green algae and should not be surprised if the task is a difficult one. Moreover, since there are reported to be 2,500 different species of cyanophyta widely distributed in nature and capable of healthy growth under widely differing conditions, we can expect nuisance growths at any time conditions foster a "population explosion." Measures taken to eliminate one species may produce optimum conditions for encouraging a different species to take its place. Also, it is fundamental that aerobic bacteria require oxygen to degrade organic matter and produce C02, that algae require C02 to photosynthesize organic matter and produce oxygen, and that both aerobic bacteria and algae require similar environments of temperature and minor nutrient concentrations to grow properly. This is a nearly perfect mutualistic symbiosis that has been going on for millions of years. Once established in a given body of water, such a cycle would be difficult to break so long as temperatures approach optimum and the sun continues to shine. This must nearly be the situation in Lake Erie's western basin where, according to Harlow (1), algae produce nearly - 1028 - |
Resolution | 300 ppi |
Color Depth | 8 bit |
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