The variability in surf-zone phytoplankton community composition together with variability in nutrient concentrations was studied at seven beaches along the coast near Port Elizabeth, South Africa over a one-year sampling period. The nutrient requirements of selected diatoms and dinoflagellates that co-occur at these beaches were studied. The highest nutrient concentrations were recorded at Brighton beach, with phosphate concentration being substantially higher than standards set out for both South African and European waters. Nitrate, ammonium and silicate concentrations were consistent (low variability) at all beaches. The species composition of beaches without surf diatoms was also not variable (except for King’s Beach – an artificial beach). Maitland beach was the only beach that could be identified as a surf diatom beach due to the presence of Anaulus australis. The surf diatom Anaulus australis was found to be a superior competitor compared to all other species tested: the other surf diatom Asterionellopsis glacialis, and the dinoflagellates Gonyaulax spinifera, Prorocentrum micans, and Scrippsiella trochoidea. Gonyaulax spinifera could possibly outcompete Anaulus australis in systems should nitrate become limiting.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves : [88]-96).

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-138).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 201-227) Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Los Angeles, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Excessive phosphorus (P) is one of the major pollutants in natural water that are responsible for algal blooms and eutrophication. P removal by soil and slag is an attractive solution if the P sorption capacity of soil or slag is significant. To design an efficient land treatment facility, basic information on the behaviour of P in the media-water environment is required. In this study, detailed experiments were conducted to study P removal under static and dynamic conditions, and mathematical models were developed to describe these processes. The kinetic studies on P sorption onto a sandy loam soil from North Sydney, Australia, and dust and cake waste products from the BHP steel industry revealed that P sorption is a slow process. More than 90% of the P was adsorbed within 70, 12 and 60 hours in a mixing system for soil, dust and cake respectively while it was within 240, 24 and 120 hours respectively in a static (no stirring) system. Dust adsorbed P the most, compared to the other adsorbents (220-225 times and 4-5 times of the sorptivity of soil and cake respectively). P sorption in the batch experiments was described better by an equation using the Langmuir isotherm than one using the Freundlich isotherm. The kinetics of P sorption were satisfactorily explained by a static, physical, non-equilibrium sorption model (SPNSM). The pH of the P solution played a critical role in the extent of removal and the removal mechanisms of P. Removal was at a minimum at pH 2. The effect of pH on P removal varied depending on the type of adsorbents and the initial P concentration. The dominant removal mechanism of P at pH<8 was physical sorption, while it was chemical precipitation at pH>10. Batch flocculation experiments revealed that the P removal efficiency increased with an increase of adsorbent dose, flocculation (contact) time and mixing rate. P sorption is affected by the presence of NH4 which competes for available sites on the adsorbents. The amount of P adsorbed by dust and cake in the presence of NH4 was less than that in a single solute system. The reduction percentage of P for dust ranged from 33 to 57%. Detailed column experiments conducted with soil, dust and cake as media indicated that dust and cake have much higher sorption capacities than soil. The solid phase P concentrations on dust and cake calculated from batch experimental isotherm constants are substantially higher than those estimated.

Excessive phosphorus (P) is one of the major pollutants in natural water that are responsible for algal blooms and eutrophication. P removal by soil and slag is an attractive solution if the P sorption capacity of soil or slag is significant. To design an efficient land treatment facility, basic information on the behaviour of P in the media-water environment is required. In this study, detailed experiments were conducted to study P removal under static and dynamic conditions, and mathematical models were developed to describe these processes. The kinetic studies on P sorption onto a sandy loam soil from North Sydney, Australia, and dust and cake waste products from the BHP steel industry revealed that P sorption is a slow process. More than 90% of the P was adsorbed within 70, 12 and 60 hours in a mixing system for soil, dust and cake respectively while it was within 240, 24 and 120 hours respectively in a static (no stirring) system. Dust adsorbed P the most, compared to the other adsorbents (220-225 times and 4-5 times of the sorptivity of soil and cake respectively). P sorption in the batch experiments was described better by an equation using the Langmuir isotherm than one using the Freundlich isotherm. The kinetics of P sorption were satisfactorily explained by a static, physical, non-equilibrium sorption model (SPNSM). The pH of the P solution played a critical role in the extent of removal and the removal mechanisms of P. Removal was at a minimum at pH 2. The effect of pH on P removal varied depending on the type of adsorbents and the initial P concentration. The dominant removal mechanism of P at pH<8 was physical sorption, while it was chemical precipitation at pH>10. Batch flocculation experiments revealed that the P removal efficiency increased with an increase of adsorbent dose, flocculation (contact) time and mixing rate. P sorption is affected by the presence of NH4 which competes for available sites on the adsorbents. The amount of P adsorbed by dust and cake in the presence of NH4 was less than that in a single solute system. The reduction percentage of P for dust ranged from 33 to 57%. Detailed column experiments conducted with soil, dust and cake as media indicated that dust and cake have much higher sorption capacities than soil. The solid phase P concentrations on dust and cake calculated from batch experimental isotherm constants are substantially higher than those estimated.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2007. / Principal faculty advisor: David A. Hutchins, College of Marine & Earth Studies. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Queensland, 2005. / Includes bibliography.