Algal blooms have caused significant losses in seagrass and macroalgae in the Indian River Lagoon, FL. To gain an understanding of these effects, samples of Gracilaria sp., Halodule wrightii, pinfish, and white mullet were taken throughout October and November of 2013. Samples from 2001 of Gracilaria sp., Halodule wrightii, Syringodium filiforme, Thalassia testudinum, pinfish, spotted seatrout, and white mullet were also obtained. Stable isotope data were obtained from these samples and compared by year and species. Halodule wrightii and pinfish had a significantly larger 2013 [delta]C13 values. Halodule wrightii also displayed lower total %C and total %N averages for 2013 when compared to 2001 data. These results may indicate a link between Halodule wrightii and pinfish, with pinfish consuming organisms that use Halodule wrightii as their source of nutrients. The location of collections also seemed to play a role in stable isotope values, as indicated by samples of Halodule wrightii.

Globally, water bodies are increasingly affected by undesirable harmful algal blooms. This dissertation contributes to research methodology pertaining to quantification of the algal blooms in multiple water bodies of Mississippi using in situ, analytical, and remote sensing techniques. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the potential of several techniques for phytoplankton enumeration and to develop remote sensing algorithms for several sensors and evaluate the performance of the sensors for quantifying phytoplankton in several water bodies. Analytical techniques such as “FlowCam”, an imaging flow cytometer; “HPLC”, high performance liquid chromatography with the chemical taxonomy program “ChemTax”; spectrofluorometric analyses; and “ELISA” assay were used to quantify a suite of parameters on algal blooms. Additionally, in-situ algal pigment biomass was measured using fluorescence probes. It was found that that each technique has unique potential. While some of the rapid and simpler techniques can be used instead of more involved techniques, sometimes use of several techniques together is beneficial for managing aquatic ecosystems and protecting human health. Algorithms were developed to quantify chlorophyll a using five remote sensing sensors including three currently operational satellite sensors and two popular sensors onboard the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs). Empirical band ratio algorithms were developed for each sensor and the best algorithms were chosen. Cluster analysis helped in differentiating the water types and linear regression was used to develop algorithms for each of the water types. The UAS sensor- Micasense was found to be most useful among the UAS sensors and the best overall with highest R2 value 0.75 with p<0.05 and minimum %RMSE of 28.22% and satellite sensor OLCI was found to be most efficient among the three satellite sensors used in the study for chlorophyll a estimation with R2 of 0.75 with p<0.05 and %RMSE 13.19%. The algorithms developed for these sensors in this study represent the best algorithms for chlorophyll a estimation in these water bodies based on R2 and %RMSE. The applicability of the algorithms can be extended to other water bodies directly or the approach developed in this study can be adopted for estimating Chl a in other water bodies.

No description available.

Due to perceived shortcomings in some aspects of hazard assessment for chemicals administered to aquatic systems, experiments were conducted to determine the effects of copper on various ecological parameters in artificial streams and microcosms. Effects investigated were colonization and growth of periphyton communities in artificial streams, community composition and nutritional content of periphyton in these streams, leaf conditioning and nutritional content in laboratory microcosms, and nutritional suitability of these leaves to a shredding macroinvertebrate. Main effects observed in periphyton growth experiments were significant reduction in substrate colonization due to copper treatment, which led to significantly lower standing biomass in treated streams. Observed growth rates were generally similar between control streams and copper treated streams. Light treatments did not affect periphyton responses to copper. Community composition of the periphyton was affected by 2.5 μg/L copper. Periphyton phosphorus and nitrogen contents were not affected by copper treatment. Conditioning rate of leaves was significantly decreased by 50 μg/L copper treatments in some cases. Leaf phosphate and nitrogen contents were not significantly affected by copper treatment. Significant differences in nutritional suitability of copper-treated leaves to a shredding macroinvertebrate were not detected. These experiments suggest that aquatic primary producers are more sensitive to copper than heterotrophs. Additionally, adverse effects on periphyton were observed at concentrations well below measures of chronic toxicity to organisms dependent on periphyton as a trophic resource and the chronic criteria for copper. As such, greater emphasis should be placed on the sensitivities of periphyton communities in future copper criteria determination. / Ph. D.

This dissertation thesis focuses on the removability of algal organic matter (AOM) by coagulation during water treatment and also on the influence of AOM on the coagulation of other substances present in source water. Special emphasis is put on the description of coagulation mechanisms. The effectiveness of AOM removal by coagulation was investigated by coagulation tests performed with optimized doses of coagulants (aluminium or ferric sulphate) under different pH values. Peptides and proteins contained in cellular organic matter of cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa were used in the experiments since they have been previously reported to disturb the coagulation process. Moreover, peptides and proteins underwent coagulation experiments together with kaolin particles, representing clay particles in turbid waters, in both the presence and absence of coagulants to investigate the effect of AOM on the coagulation of turbid waters. To enable the description of coagulation mechanisms, AOM were characterised in terms of charge, functional groups, molecular weight and ability to form dissolved complexes with coagulant metals. The experimental results demonstrated that the removability of peptides and proteins is greatly dependent on pH value and on the properties of the involved particles or molecules....

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-07-14T14:41:09Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Tese_Ana Paula MC Valença.pdf: 2664032 bytes, checksum: 5b5c31bf5f29946a540d84d29e519535 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-14T14:41:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Tese_Ana Paula MC Valença.pdf: 2664032 bytes, checksum: 5b5c31bf5f29946a540d84d29e519535 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-23 / FACEPE / A presente tese avaliou os possíveis impactos gerados pelos tapetes de alga na macrofauna estuarina. Em uma planície estuarina lamosa, situada no Complexo Estuarino do Canal de Santa Cruz, litoral norte de Pernambuco, foi registrada a ocorrência de tapetes de algas filamentosas em diferentes períodos (Setembro-2012, Setembro a Dezembro-2013 e Maio a Junho-2014). Através de estudos observacionais e manipulativos in situ foram testados: (I) o efeito do tapete algal na biogeoquímica sedimentar e na fauna, considerando a presença da alga e o seu estágio fisiológico; (II) a recolonização e a recuperação da macrofauna em sedimentos com remoção algal considerando os efeitos da compactação sedimentar gerada pelo tapete e do tamanho da área algal removida; a existência de efeitos (III) de barreira e (IV) de sazonalidade gerados pelo tapete algal e analisados sob a ótica da recolonização inicial. O estágio fisiológico da alga foi importante para a biogeoquímica sedimentar, enquanto que a presença do tapete algal se caracterizou como uma importante fonte de distúrbio para a fauna bêntica. A recolonização pela macrofauna nos sedimentos com remoção algal ocorreu de forma discreta e dependente da compactação sedimentar e do tamanho da área removida apenas para os parâmetros univariados. Além disso, não foi observada a recuperação das áreas experimentais até ao final do estudo (95 dias). A recolonização inicial (30 dias) não foi afetada pela presença do tapete algal circunvizinho às áreas experimentais. Embora tenha sido observado que a sazonalidade influencia no sedimento e na fauna, a análise da comunidade indicou uma tendência à convergência entre os tratamentos de remoção (AR) e sedimento natural (NA) independente da mesma. Além disso, foi observada uma relação entre o regime pluviométrico e o desenvolvimento do tapete algal. As consequências ecológicas do tapete algal, analisadas sob a recolonização a curto (30 dias) e médio prazo (95 dias), mostraram ser pouco previsíveis e extremamente influenciadas pela heterogeneidade ambiental. Além disso, a recuperação da comunidade em uma área afetada pelo desenvolvimento de tapete algal pode não apresentar a sequência sucessional observada em outros experimentos de colonização. Embora os estudos tenham sido conduzidos em um único local (na mesma planície estuarina), os resultados permitem uma melhor compreensão dos efeitos dos tapetes de algas na macrofauna bêntica estuarina. / This thesis assessed the possible impacts of algal mats on estuarine macrofauna. In an estuarine mudflat placed on Santa Cruz Channel Estuarine Complex, in the north coast of Pernambuco, the occurrence of filamentous mat-forming algae was registered at different periods (September-2012, September to December-2013 and May to June-2014). Observational and manipulative studies were conducted in situ and tested: (I) the effect of algal mats on sediment biogeochemistry and fauna, considering the presence of the algae and the physiological stage; (II) the recolonization and recovery of macrofauna in algal removal sediments relating to sediment compaction and the extension of algal removed (i.e. spatial scale); the existence of (III) boundaries and (IV) seasonal effects generated by the algal mat and analyzed using macrofauna recolonization data. The physiological stage affected significantly the sediment biogeochemistry and the presence of the algae was an important source of disturbance to benthic fauna. The recolonization of algal removal sediments varied regarding sediment compaction and spatial scale, but this was discrete and restricted to univariate measures. Besides, no recovery of any removal treatment was observed at the end of the experiment (95 days). Initial recolonization (30 days) was not affected by the surrounding algal mat found in the algal removal treatments. Although seasonal effects influence on sediment and fauna data, the analysis of benthic community showed a tendency of convergence between NA and AR treatments regardless of season. Moreover, it was possible to observe a relationship between rainfall seasonality and algal mat development. Ecological consequences of algal mats, analyzed through faunal recolonization within short- (30 days) and medium- (95 days) terms, showed to be less predictable and strongly influenced by environmental heterogeneity. Besides, community recovery in an area affected by algal coverage does not always include the successional sequence observed in other colonization experiments. Although the series of experiments have been conducted under one location (the same estuarine mudflat), the results provided strong insights on the effects of algal mats on tropical benthic macrofauna.

Submitted by Marilene Donadel (marilene.donadel@unioeste.br) on 2017-09-27T22:59:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Guilherme_M_Castro_2017.pdf: 1489623 bytes, checksum: 1aecc4aefdf7b995bfb34f6e8cda4776 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-27T22:59:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Guilherme_M_Castro_2017.pdf: 1489623 bytes, checksum: 1aecc4aefdf7b995bfb34f6e8cda4776 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-03 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This work aimed to address the ecological and biotechnological aspects of microalgae for the preservation and conservation of the Toledo River. The study was carried out in five points in the Toledo River, with monthly collections of 300 mL of samples, filtered in phytoplankton networks of 20 μm in diameter, from July / 2015 to June / 2016. The phytoplankton community and the concentration of chlorophyll a were identified at the genus level. The abiotic parameters pH, conductivity, turbidity, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate, total phosphorus and, BOD as the Carlson Trophic State Indexes modified by Lamparelli and Nygaard were determined. In the evaluation of the growth of the microalgae collected from the Toledo River, four strains were used, two mixed (with two or more genera) and two isolates of Chlorella sp, divided into four treatments, all in the synthetic medium BM, during 18 days with monitoring of Kinetics of growth and pH every 2 days. The water quality of the Toledo river was directly affected by the urban activities in its surroundings, mainly in the points P4 and P5. 41 genera of algae were identified, divided into 5 classes, 10 orders and 20 families, with predominance of Chlorophyceae (44%). Spatially, point P4 was the most representative in number of genera with 28 taxa and, seasonally, the summer season presented 30 taxa, the largest of the four seasons of the year. In the IET of Lamparelli, the river was classified as oligotrophic and, in Nygaard from oligotrophic to mesotrophic. The growth of microalgae was influenced by the number of genera present in the strain and by the algal inoculum of the culture. The unialgal T4 strain had the highest maximum cell density - DCM of 4960 x 105 cells mL-1 and the lowest DCM was recorded by mixed T2 cultivation with 513 x 105 cells mL-1. The pH remained in alkaline condition in most of the experiment, favoring the availability of the HPO4- orthophosphate fraction. In the ecological aspects evaluated, the composition of the phytoplankton of the Toledo River was directly affected by the anthropic activities of its surroundings, mainly in the urban stretch and it was not possible to affirm the real trophic state of the Toledo River, by the two models using completely different methodologies, A third index should be tested to confirm the trophic degree of the river. In biotechnology, the growth of the non-mixed cultures was higher than the mixed ones and the alkaline pH is the most adequate cultivation condition for the growth of the analyzed microalgae. / Este trabalho objetivou abordar aspectos ecológicos e biotecnológicos das microalgas para fins de preservação e conservação do Rio Toledo. O estudo foi realizado em cinco pontos no Rio Toledo, com coletas mensais de 300 mL de amostras, filtradas em redes de fitoplâncton de 20 μm de diâmetro, no período de julho/2015 a junho/2016. Foram identificados em nível de gênero a comunidade fitoplanctonica e a concentração de clorofila a. Os parâmetros abióticos pH, condutividade, turbidez, amônia, nitrito, nitrato, ortofosfato, fósforo total e, DBO assim que os Índices de Estado Trófico de Carlson modificado por Lamparelli e de Nygaard foram determinados. Na avaliação do crescimento das microalgas coletadas do Rio Toledo, foram utilizadas quatro cepas, sendo duas mistas (com dois ou mais gêneros) e duas isoladas de Chlorella sp, divididas em quatro tratamentos, todos no meio sintético BM, durante 18 dias com acompanhamento da cinética de crescimento e do pH a cada 2 dias. A qualidade da água do rio Toledo foi diretamente afetada pelas atividades urbanas no seu entorno, principalmente nos pontos P4 e P5. Foram identificados 41 gêneros de algas, divididos em 5 classes, 10 ordens e 20 famílias, com predominância das Chlorophyceae (44%). Espacialmente, o ponto P4 foi o mais representativo em número de gêneros com 28 táxons e, temporalmente, a estação verão apresentou 30 táxons, a maior dentre as quatro estações do ano. No IET de Lamparelli, o rio foi classificado como oligotrófico e, no de Nygaard de oligotrófico a mesotrófico. O crescimento das microalgas foi influenciado pelo número de gêneros presentes na cepa e pelo inóculo algal do cultivo. A cepa unialgal T4 apresentou a maior densidade celular máxima – DCM de 4960 x 105 cel mL-1 e a menor DCM foi registrada pelo cultivo misto T2 com 513 x 105 cel mL-1. O pH permaneceu em condição alcalina em grande parte do experimento, favorecendo a disponibilidade da fração de ortofosfato HPO4-. Nos aspectos ecológicos avaliados, a composição do fitoplâncton do Rio Toledo foi diretamente afetada pelas atividades antrópicas do seu entorno, principalmente no trecho urbano e não foi possível afirmar o real estado trófico do Rio Toledo, pelos dois modelos utilizarem metodologias completamente diferentes entre si, devendo ser testado um terceiro índice para confirmar o grau trófico do rio. Na biotecnologia, o crescimento dos cultivos não mistos foram maiores de que os mistos e o pH alcalino é a condição de cultivo mais adequada para o crescimento das microalgas analisados.

The Kennet and Avon Canal in southern England is experiencing severe water quality problems caused by inorganic sediment and algae. These water quality problems are affecting the angling sport of fishermen downstream of the confluence of the canal with the River Kennet. The Environment Agency has been called upon to remedy these issues, but before proceeding they desire a computer model capable of predicting the water quality impacts of various scenarios under consideration. No such model was available to them. This project identified the key solids generation and transport processes to be included in a water quality model for inland navigational canals. Where available, equations from the literature describing relevant processes were used or modified for inclusion in a canal modeling algorithm. Where literature was not available, water quality samples were taken to characterize needed relationships. The final algorithm was coded and tested using a simplified dataset that allowed clear evaluation of the simulated processes. After successful testing, the canal model was applied to the Kennet and Avon Canal. The time series predicted by the model were compared to observed hydrological, solids, and chlorophyll-a (representing algae) data at multiple points in the canal. The model adequately predicted all of these constituents at the monitored locations. The final task in the project required evaluation of six management scenarios proposed by the Environment Agency to address the water quality problem. The model suggests that filtration or other treatment of water in the canal near the confluence with the river is the best management option, as it will address both the elevated inorganic sediment and algae concentrations at the most critical point in the canal. Less desirable options include efforts that only target inorganic sediment, which could increase algal concentrations by increasing light availability; and diversion of surface flows from the canal, which could possibly damage the hydrologic balance of the canal while encouraging undesirable algal growth.

För att hålla vattendragen och miljön rena, renas avloppsvattnet för att nå ett visst mått innan det släpps ut. Vi gjorde en fallstudie för att utvärdera metoderna som används för att behandla avloppsvatten i tre steg: primär, sekundär och tertiär i delstaten Texas, USA. Vi fann att olika fysikaliska, kemiska och biologiska bearbetningsmetoder används i stor utsträckning i dessa tre stadier. Även om en del av det slam som produceras i en avloppsvattenreningsanläggning utsätts för anaerob rötning (AD) process för att producera biogas, skickas majoriteten av dem till deponier som är ohållbart eftersom det skapar miljöföroreningar som läckage av näringsämnen, påverkar markens biologiska mångfald och släpper ut giftiga gaser och växthusgaser (GHG) som CH4, CO2, N2O. Den mest hållbara och prisvärda metoden för att behandla avloppsvatten är att använda mikroalger och några av fördelarna inkluderar: (i) använda CO2 som en kolkälla och generera syre, (ii) synergistiskt arbeta med aeroba bakterier som bryter ner organiska föroreningar i vatten på kort tid tid, (iii) högeffektiv bindning av överskott av kväve, fosfor och tungmetaller i avloppsvatten. Flera algbaserade reningsmetoder för avloppsvatten har utvecklats. Bland dem är reaktorn Rotating Algal Biofilm (RAB) en av de ledande behandlingsmetoderna som använder ett roterande band som består av syntetiska material som rör sig på en cylinder som är delvis nedsänkt i avloppsvatten. Algbiomassan kunde skördas från bältet genom att helt enkelt skrapa materialets yta. Vi uppskattade att ~1793,7 miljoner liter avloppsvatten behandlas dagligen i delstaten Texas och hypotetiskt om allt avloppsvatten behandlas med RAB skulle ~174,2 ton algbiomassa kunna produceras. Denna algbiomassa kan användas för AD-processen eller vidarebearbetas och fraktioneras till lipider, kolhydrater och proteiner med hjälp av etablerade hydrotermiska bearbetningsmetoder och användas som byggstenar för att producera bränslen, kemikalier och biomaterial. Tre scenarier har undersökts som belyser potentialen och fördelarna med att använda alger för att behandla avloppsvatten jämfört med konventionella metoder för avloppsvattenrening och hur denna övergång kommer att gynna ekonomin och miljön. / To keep the waterways and environment clean, wastewater is treated to reach a certain metric before they are discharged.  We did a case study to evaluate the methods used to treat wastewater in three stages: primary, secondary, and tertiary in the state of Texas, United States. We found different physical, chemical, and biological processing methods are widely used in these three stages. Though some of the sludge produced in a wastewater treatment facility are subjected to anaerobic digestion (AD) process to produce biogas, the majority of them are sent to landfills which is unsustainable as it creates environmental pollution such as nutrient leaching, impacts soil biodiversity, and releases toxic gases and greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as CH4, CO2, N2O. The most sustainable and affordable method of treating wastewater is using microalgae and some of the advantages include: (i) use CO2 as a carbon source and generate oxygen, (ii) synergistically working with aerobic bacteria breaking down organic contaminants in water in a short period of time, (iii) highly efficient sequester of excess nitrogen, phosphorus, and heavy metals in wastewater. Several algal based wastewater treatment methods have been developed. Among them, the Rotating Algal Biofilm (RAB) reactor is one of the leading treatment methods that uses a rotating belt made up of synthetic materials moving on a cylinder partially submerged in wastewater. The algal biomass could be harvested from the belt by simply scrapping the material's surface. We estimated that ~1793.7 million gallons of wastewater are treated daily in the state of Texas and hypothetically if all the wastewater is treated using RAB ~174.2 tons of algal biomass could be produced. This algal biomass can be used for the AD process or further processed and fractionated to lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins using established hydrothermal processing methods and used as building blocks for producing fuels, chemicals, and biomaterials. Three scenarios have been investigated, highlighting the potential and benefits of using algae to treat wastewater compared to conventional wastewater treatment methods and how this transition will benefit the economy and environment.

This diploma thesis deals with the efficiency and factors affecting the adsorption of AOM (Algal Organic Matter) amino acids (AAs) arginine (Arg), phenylalanine (Phe) and aspartic acid (Asp) onto granular activated carbon (GAC) Picabiol 12x40 (PIC). The efficiency of AOM AAs removal was studied in laboratory equilibrium and kinetic experiments and it was shown that the adsorption efficiency of the selected AAs is dependent on the structure of the molecule of AAs and the nature of the functional groups of their side chain, and more particularly to solution pH, which determines the nature and size and surface charge of AAs and GAC. In contrast to this, the ionic strength (IS) of solution had relatively low effect on the AAs adsorption. Arg adsorption efficiency increased with increasing pH and reached a maximum at pH 9, where AAs and GAC were oppositely charged, and this leads to attractive electrostatic interactions. In the case of Asp adsorption on PIC practically did not work. The reason is that under all experimental conditions Asp molecules and the surface of the PIC carried identical negative charge. This led to the strong electrostatic repulsion between Asp and PIC which prevented effective adsorption. In the case of Phe the adsorption decreases with increasing pH. Maximum adsorption...