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Study of a “bloom” of the oil‐rich alga Botryococcus braunii in the Darwin River Reservoir
Author(s) -
Wake L. V.,
Hillen L. W.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260220808
Subject(s) - botryococcus braunii , bloom , algae , botany , shore , algal bloom , chlorophyta , darwin (adl) , environmental science , biology , ecology , phytoplankton , fishery , systems engineering , nutrient , engineering
Abstract A “bloom” of the freshwater alga Botryococcus braunii Kützing appeared in the Darwin River Reservoir in 1976. At the time of algal sampling, the "bloom" was estimated at 1500 ton and possibly double this mass at a maximum cell concentration. The alga is characterized by a high liquid hydrocarbon content, sufficient to cause flotation of the algal colonies. This report is an examination of the waters of the reservoir and of the characteristics of the alga. Observations are included on the formation of a material known as Coorongite, a rubbery complex produced by the drying of colony aggregates at the shoreline. Earlier reports of “blooms” of B. braunii are reviewed in relation to this study.