Growth Analysis of Nutrient Rich Cladophora Using Various Temperature and Light Gradients
Mentor 1
Russell L Cuhel
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
28-4-2017 1:30 PM
End Date
28-4-2017 4:00 PM
Description
The alga Cladophora is often assigned as the cause for irksome smell in Lake Michigan; however, other factors are involved in this issue. Cladophora grows in well-lit shallow water, but it appears ashore and pile on the beach because it is ripped from its habitat by storms or in old age. Wastewater is very rich in phosphorus (P) compounds and if not controlled, P can be used by Cladophora to grow and store for later use. The purpose of this experiment is to grow Cladophora and differentiate among the organic phosphates and polyphosphates by using hydrolysis treatments; a crucial procedure in determining how much P is stored in Cladophora.
Cladophora clumps were treated with phosphorus and other nutrients, grown under different temperature and light gradients and sampled over a course of two weeks. Untreated clumps of Cladophora were also grown and compared to the nutrient-rich samples. Samples were tested for silicate, phosphorus, CO2, and nitrogen uptake. All clumps were weighed before incubating and after our last sampling. Lastly, clumps were homogenized to measure the amount of organic phosphorus material and polyphosphate stored. Other crucial biochemical analysis were done.
Current results show that Cladophora did indeed grow under certain light and temperature conditions. In two weeks, Cladophora weighed almost three times as much under the brightest light gradient. Under the brightest light gradients there was also a decrease in P from the media grown. Biochemical analysis of the organic filamentous material will be done in order to prove that Cladophora took in the nutrients from the media. Based on our current chemical analysis, we expect to see a higher amount of organic P and polyphosphate in the enriched Cladophora.
Growth Analysis of Nutrient Rich Cladophora Using Various Temperature and Light Gradients
Union Wisconsin Room
The alga Cladophora is often assigned as the cause for irksome smell in Lake Michigan; however, other factors are involved in this issue. Cladophora grows in well-lit shallow water, but it appears ashore and pile on the beach because it is ripped from its habitat by storms or in old age. Wastewater is very rich in phosphorus (P) compounds and if not controlled, P can be used by Cladophora to grow and store for later use. The purpose of this experiment is to grow Cladophora and differentiate among the organic phosphates and polyphosphates by using hydrolysis treatments; a crucial procedure in determining how much P is stored in Cladophora.
Cladophora clumps were treated with phosphorus and other nutrients, grown under different temperature and light gradients and sampled over a course of two weeks. Untreated clumps of Cladophora were also grown and compared to the nutrient-rich samples. Samples were tested for silicate, phosphorus, CO2, and nitrogen uptake. All clumps were weighed before incubating and after our last sampling. Lastly, clumps were homogenized to measure the amount of organic phosphorus material and polyphosphate stored. Other crucial biochemical analysis were done.
Current results show that Cladophora did indeed grow under certain light and temperature conditions. In two weeks, Cladophora weighed almost three times as much under the brightest light gradient. Under the brightest light gradients there was also a decrease in P from the media grown. Biochemical analysis of the organic filamentous material will be done in order to prove that Cladophora took in the nutrients from the media. Based on our current chemical analysis, we expect to see a higher amount of organic P and polyphosphate in the enriched Cladophora.
