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On the Simultaneous Identification and Quantification of Microalgae Populations Based on Fluorometric Techniques
Author(s) -
Gsponer Natalia S.,
Rodríguez María Claudia,
Palacios Rodrigo E.,
Chesta Carlos A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/php.12936
Subject(s) - algae , phytoplankton , microcystis , cyanobacteria , photosynthesis , chlorophyll a , algal bloom , environmental science , biology , chlorella , botany , environmental chemistry , ecology , chemistry , nutrient , genetics , bacteria
In this study, the phytoplankton structure of a freshwater reservoir located in central Argentina (Embalse Río Tercero) was analyzed using Beutler's method ( Photosynthesis Research 72: 39–53, 2002), aiming to provide water quality control agencies with a reliable tool for early detection of algae blooms, particularly cyanobacteria. The method estimated the concentration of chlorophyll a ( Chl a ) contributed by individual algal groups in a real sample by fitting its fluorescence excitation spectrum to a linear combination of norm spectra of relevant algae groups. To this purpose, norm spectra for five algae genera usually found in Embalse Río Tercero, Microcystis , Chlorella , Cyclotella , Ceratium and Porphyridium , were constructed and posteriorly used to analyze samples collected in the reservoir in years 2014–2016. Results showed that the method worked well for the quick identification of the algae present in the samples, but it tended to overestimate its Chl a contents. This error was attributed to the large heterogeneity of the algal populations due to the aging of cells grown in environmental conditions.