Algae Investigation

Olivia BuvalaWildlands

Semester Evaluation

Contents

MissionAbout AlgaePeriphytonAlgae as Indicators

Project Mission Informative

Algae

Basic Knowledge

My Experiments

Pollution Indicators

Algae

Benefits: Base of the aquatic food chain Useful indicators of pollution Help remove excess nutrients Produce oxygen Constitute the raw material to make agar,

iodine, and various food products. Provide spawning habitat for fish

Algae

Q. What do the mother’s of blue-green algae hope for?

A. That their daughter cells will grow up and marry pond scum

Plant vs. Protist

Termed Algae

In brief-Simple one-celledGroup in coloniesAlso form organisms with many cellsAnd collaborating together as simple

tissues.

Reproduction

Spore(May be motile or non-motile)

Simple sexWhere algae act gametes

But can also operate with complex egg and sperm cells

Helpful Hints:Motile Flagellated UnicellSelf Propelled-with a whip-singular cell

Algal Reproduction

Q. Why did the algae fail math?

A. He divided when mutliplying

Energy

Heterotrophic-Heteron=(an)other Trophe=nutritionSynthesizing required organic

materials from inorganic sources

Photosynthetic-Sunlight to synthesize carbohydrates

from carbon dioxide and water

Non-aquatic HabitatsAnimals-Turtles, snails, rotifers, worms, crustacea,

alligators, three-toed sloths, sponges, etc.Soil-Composition variesTerrestrial plants-Via lichenised fungi, shady tree sides,

penetrate leaves (rainforests), tree hollows, pitcher plants

SnowRocks-Internal and external

Algae

Q. What is the most common form of algae transportation?

A. A nitrogen-cycle

Aquatic HabitatsAquatic Plants-Internal and externalLagoons & Billabongs-Rich in desmidsBogs, marshes, swamps-Also rich in desmids(ex. In SphagnumHot Springs-Blue-green algae dominate Lakes-All have planktonic algae (free floating or

swimming) and periphytic (surface attached)

Aquatic Habitats (cont’)

Reservoirs-Provide ideal protected habitat for microalgaeRivers, Streams, Creeks-Wide distributionMud & Sand-Many speciesPonds, Puddles, Roadside Ditches, & Rock

Pools-Air transported algae

Periphyton

Surface Attached Algae

Food source (invertebrates, fish)

Water quality indicator

Represents physiological and community-level changes

Algae

Q. What kind of algae most often joins the military?

A. Fighter-planktons

Pollution Indicators:Why are algae such good indicators?

Naturally high population

Rapid response time

Identification to a species level

Ease of sampling

Tolerance or sensitivity to specific environmental conditions known

EPA 1

Pollution Indicators:Rapid Bioassessment Objectives

Assessment of: BiomassSpeciesCompositionBiological Condition of Periphyton

Assemblages

EPA 2

Details, details, details:Epiphytic and Benthic

Epiphyticone organism living within or upon another without causing harm.

BenthicLiving in or on the

bottom of a body of water

Pollution Indicators:Phosphorus

Change in algal communities Enriched conditions increase or

decrease, depends on epiphytic/benthic, pH, water regime, original state…

Florida regulations- less than 1mg/L Species usually affected:

EPA 1

Pollution Indicators:Phosphorus

Anabaena

Aphanzinomenon

Dinobryon

Scenedesmus

Pediastrum

Closterium

Cosmarium

Oscillatoria

Schroederia

Staurastrum

Pandorina

MicrocystisMicrosterias

EPA 1

My Protocol Mark Point on GPS Label sample bag with date, stream, site, sample # Select a cobble size substrate Lift cobble from bed into submerged collecting tray Pour all but a small amount of water out of the

collection tray Remove algae from substrate using nylon brush by

brushing down into the water in the container for 3 minutes until all algae is visibly removed

Rinse substrate, brush, and fingers with 50-100 mL into container

Rinse container and pour sample into sample bag Check label Add sample to cooler

My Data

Motic Images•Data

Collection Tool

Digital Microscope

My Images

Hydrodictyon

Chlorella

Microspora

Cosmarium

Sampling

Sampling Area•Eau Claire River

•Multiple samples•Bends, straights,

rougher waters

•Deinhammer Creek•Multiple samples

•Mouth, bends, straights

•Varying substrates

•Beaver Creek

•Pine Creek

Proper SamplingApparel

Terms to Know:Substrates

Substrates:The surface upon which algae

attaches its self. Rocks Wood (bark, submerged trees, logs…)

Man-made structures (pipes, bridges, boards…)

Anywhere

Data CollectionSubstrate Type Collection Technique

Removable Substrates (hard) Remove representative substrates from water; brush or scrape representative area of algae from surface and rinse into sample jar.

Removable Substrates (soft) Place a portion of the plant in a sample container with some water. Shake it vigorously and rub it gently to remove algae. Remove plant from sample container.

Large Substrates (unremovable) Place PVC pipe with a neoprene collar at one end on the substrate so that the collar is sealed against the substrate. Dislodge algae in the pipe with a toothbrush, nail brush, or scraper. Remove algae from pipe with pipette.

Loose Sediments Invert petri dish over sediments. Trap sediments in petri dish by inserting spatula under dish. Remove sediments from stream and rinse into sampling container. Algal samples from depositional habitats can also be collected with spoons, forceps, or pipette.

EPA 2

The Final Joke

Q. What couldn’t the algae keep a steady relationship?

A. He wasn’t really a fun-gi

EPA References

1.) Periphyton as Biological Indicatorshttp://www.epa.gov/bioindicators/html/

periphyton.html

2.)Rapid Bioassessment Protocols For Use in Streams and Wadeable Rivers: Periphyton, Benthic Macro-invertebrates, and Fish Second Edition

http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/rbp/

A big thanks to the EnvironmentalProtection Agency.

Thank you for viewing

The End