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The Availability of Condensed Phosphates for the Algal Strain Scenedesmus obtusiusculus Chodat, with Special Regard to Conditions Characteristic in Lake Balaton
Author(s) -
Dobolyi Elemér,
Ördög Vince
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
internationale revue der gesamten hydrobiologie und hydrographie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1522-2632
pISSN - 0020-9309
DOI - 10.1002/iroh.19790640313
Subject(s) - phosphorus , polyphosphate , limiting , scenedesmus , algae , chlorophyceae , phosphate , eutrophication , nitrogen , environmental chemistry , biology , chemistry , botany , ecology , nutrient , chlorophyta , biochemistry , mechanical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
The limiting factor in the water of Lake Balaton was calculated by means of Verduin's equation. If only the orthophosphate‐phosphorus concentration is inserted into the equation, phosphorus is the primary limiting factor. If, however, total phosphorus is considered, the factor intensity of nitrogen will be the least, i. e. nitrogen will be the primary limiting‐factor of plant growth. According to measurements during 1976, average values for the total dissolved phosphorus and orthophosphate‐phosphorus content of Balaton Lake water were 15,66 mg/m 3 and 7.66 mg/m 3 , respectively. Experiments with the algal strain Scenedesmus obtusiusculus Chod. (Chlorophyceae, Chlorococcales). were designed to test the availability of the condensed phosphorus form for the algae. The experiments were performed partly with synthetic polyphosphates, partly, with polyphosphates isolated from Balaton Lake water. The results showed, contrary to our expectations, that phosphates present in the condensed form (irrespective of their structure and degree of condensation). were not utilized by the algae under sterile conditions, i. e. in the absence of bacterial activity. In the light of the above it is recommended to consider only orthophosphate‐phosphorus when calculating the limiting factor.