Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is an important species in the expansion of aquaculture, which supplements strained natural fish stocks worldwide. Although nitrogen accumulation in aquaculture has been documented as hazardous, recent studies have highlighted its potential to positively affect fish growth. The current study investigates the growth and oxygen consumption of juvenile Nile tilapia exposed to high (sub-lethal) and low levels of total water ammonia (TAmm). The first series of experiments aimed to determine the effects of high TAmm toxicity on indicators of metabolic rate and whole-body growth. Results of non-acclimation exposures to ammonia suggest that high levels of TAmm (1000, 2000 and 4000 μM) negatively affect oxygen consumption and ventilation rates, with reduced respiratory efficiency at 4000 μM. This effect on oxygen consumption was not present after a 48hr acclimation period to TAmm concentrations. Tilapia grown under the TAmm treatment conditions had significantly reduced weight and length after 84 days at concentrations of 2000 and 4000 μM. The second series of experiments investigated metabolic rate and growth under conditions of low-level TAmm (75, 150, 300, 600, 1200 and 2400 μM) to determine potential positive effects on growth. The results of these experiments indicated that oxygen consumption was reduced in non-acclimated fish at concentrations of 75, 150 and 300 μM, which were therefore examined in subsequent growth experiments. This oxygen consumption reduction was not present after 48hrs of ammonia acclimation. Tilapia grown at low TAmm (≤300 μM) did not exhibit significant differences in weight, length, condition factor or specific growth rate within the 56-day experiment. This study demonstrates that high levels of TAmm significantly impair tilapia whole-body growth. Furthermore, low levels of TAmm (≤300 μM) do not appear to affect growth. In both series, an initial reduction in metabolic rate was noted in non-acclimated fish, but was not present after 48hr TAmm acclimation. While fish “recovered” from initial effects of high TAmm on oxygen consumption and ventilation, significant negative effects on growth were noted. This study suggests that tilapia adapt to the initial effects of TAmm through a process that, at high levels, is energetically costly and compromises growth. / Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-04 11:33:48.94

The effect of ammonia on anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (OFMSW) was investigated in this study. This study involved two sets of experiments. First set involved the investigation of ammonia toxicity on AD of synthetic OFMSW only (SW), at three different phases and pH 7.5, 8.0 and 8.5. Phase 1 was the Batch Methane Potential (BMP) phase. BMP tests were conducted under ammonia concentration of 2500 mg/L, 5000 mg/L, 7500 mg/L and 10,000 mg/L and at pH 7.5, 8.0, and 8.5, using 500 mL Kimax® glass bottles. The total working volume of the mixture was 300 mL comprising 120 mL of mesophilic anaerobically digested inoculums, 30 g of OFMSW, various TAN concentrations ranging from 2,500, 5,000, 7,500 to 10,000 mg/L, and equal portions of buffer in form of NaHCO3 and KHCO3. The second phase of the experiment examined whether the tolerance of the bacteria to high ammonia concentration would improve by acclimating the microbes to high ammonia concentrations, through gradual TAN loading. TAN concentration was increased gradually at pH 7.5, 8.0 and 8.5 weekly. The third phase of the experiment was Semi-continuous batch phase. This phase examined the possibility of reducing the inhibitory effect of ammonia on AD, batch reactors at pH values of 8.0 and 8.5 containing initial TAN concentrations of 7500 mg/L and 10,000 mg/L. 3 g of the digestate containing high ammonia concentration(s) was replaced with fresh substrate at every 4 days, 7 days and 15 days. The second set of experiment involved study of the effects of ammonia on anaerobic digestion of OFMSW with real landfill leachate (SW+L). Phase 1 was BMP in which the effect of ammonia was examined at TAN concentrations of 7,500 and 10,000 mg/L. The phase 2 of the (SW+L) gradual TAN TAN loading. The possibility of adapting mesophilic bacteria to high ammonia concentration was examined. The results of the study confirmed that ammonia is toxic to AD, at high concentrations. Biogas production reduced with increase in TAN concentration. Reduction in Cumulative Biogas Production (CBP) compared with control reactors was as much as 43 %, 64 % and 77 % in reactors containing 7500 mg/L TAN at pH 7.5, pH 8.0 and pH 8.5. CBP reduced to 80-85 % in reactors containing 10,000 mg/L TAN across the pH examined. Also, replacing 3g of digestate containing high TAN concentrations of 7500 mg/L and 10,000 mg/L with 3 g fresh substrate improved the activity of the mesophilic bacteria as seen in the surges in biogas production when fresh substrate was injected into the reactors. Similar results were obtained on effect of ammonia on AD of OFMSW mixed with real landfill leachate to simulate an anaerobic bioreactor landfill. CBP reduced as the TAN concentration increased. Compared with control reactors, reactors containing 7500 mg/L TAN at pH 8.0 and pH 8.5 had 61 % and 80 % reduction in CBP. Likewise, reactors containing 10,000 mg/L TAN at pH 8.0 and pH 8.5 had 68 % and 85 % reduction in CBP, compared with control reactors. Study confirmed that pH influenced the toxicity and composition of Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN). At high pH (i.e. 8.5), FAN component of TAN was about 26 % and was inhibitory to the methanogens. Results also showed that mesophilic bacteria could be adapted to a TAN concentration of about 5000 mg/L at pH 7.5 through gradual TAN loading. Similar results were obtained on effect of ammonia on AD of OFMSW mixed with real landfill leachate to simulate an anaerobic bioreactor landfill. CBP reduced as the TAN concentration increased. Compared with control reactors, reactors containing 7500 mg/L TAN at pH 8.0 and pH 8.5 had 61 % and 80 % reduction in CBP. Likewise, reactors containing 10,000 mg/L TAN at pH 8.0 and pH 8.5 had 68 % and 85 % reduction in CBP, compared with control reactors. Study confirmed that pH influenced the toxicity and composition of Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN). At high pH (i.e. 8.5), FAN component of TAN was about 26 % and was inhibitory to the methanogens. Results also showed that mesophilic bacteria could be adapted to a TAN concentration of about 5000 mg/L at pH 7.5 through gradual TAN loading.