| Title |
A Simplified Method to Determine Algal Biomass and Chlorophyll a Concentration in Shallow River Littoral Zones |
| ID_Doc |
7066 |
| Authors |
Kumar, R; Pandey, P; Kumar, U; Pandey, A; Rai, N; Pandey, P; Huo, J; Stillway, M; Singh, V |
| Title |
A Simplified Method to Determine Algal Biomass and Chlorophyll a Concentration in Shallow River Littoral Zones |
| Year |
2024 |
| Published |
|
| Abstract |
One of the indicators of degraded stream water is the increased levels of harmful algal blooms (HABs), which consume oxygen and block sunlight, and eventual oxygen deficit in water is detrimental for aquatic life. The chlorophyll a molecule, a key biochemical component responsible for photosynthesis in algae, is used as an indicator for nutrient pollution in river water. In this study, we used a simple method for determining wet and dry algal biomass and chlorophyll a of freshwater algae. Measurements were performed with spectrophotometry, and the extractionmethod involved cell disruption by mortar and pestle, and solvent based extraction. The algal biomass determination process used a two-step approach for estimating the wet biomass weight by centrifugation and pelletization, and dry biomass weight by oven drying at 104 degrees C. In addition, viable cells were enumerated using a hemocytometer. A strong correlation was found between dry and wet biomass (R2 = 0.86), and the relationship between cell counts and turbidity of water was reasonable (R2 = 0.51). The novelty of this study is that five different methods were used to asses chlorophyll, and algal biomass in river water samples, and attempts were made to derive simplified relationships and methods to determine chlorophyll a. Further, the novelty of this study is unfolding the challenges and limitations of each approach utilized for chlorophyll a in ambient water. |
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