Water Quality Lab Report: Water Pollution and Algal Growth

Water Quality Lab Report: Water Pollution and Algal Growth
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Abstract
This research study examined the impact of different volumes of nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants on the growth of algae in waterways. The objective of the study was to establish the effect of the two nutrients on the growth of algae in aquatic ecosystems.
Additionally, this study also investigated the effect of acid rain as a pollutant to algal growth. Three hypotheses were critical for this study. The first hypothesis stated that algal growth was expected to increase as the concentration of nitrogen pollution increased. Secondly, it was hypothesized that as the level of phosphorus concentration increased, it was anticipated that algal growth would increase, and vice versa. Lastly, the study hypothesized that an increase in the contamination of acid rain would reduce the growth of algae. The study data findings supported the three hypotheses. As was expected, the study confirmed that elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus supported algal growth. On the other hand, it was confirmed that high levels of acid rain reduced the growth of algae in waterways.
Water Quality Lab Report: Water Pollution and Algal Growth
Introduction
In recent decades, many ecologically important and economically viable freshwater bodies have experienced harmful algal blooms and degradation of the water quality. Eutrophication and widespread degradation of water quality is hazardous to aquatic life and has been blamed for its decline. Tang, Li, and Acharya (2016) argue that the introduction of a complete water quality management system is not only essential but necessary to control eutrophication and protect the aquatic ecosystem. A single critical solution that water managers can adopt is to effectively reduce the external nutrient inputs to the marine ecosystem (Ahlvik, Ekholm, Hyytiдinen, and Pitkдnen, 2014; Tang, Li, and Acharya, 2016). Therefore, it remains essential that practical and feasible nutrient reduction targets are developed to reduce eutrophication potentials and improve water quality.
The presence of algae in the waterways is critical and fulfills a myriad of ecosystems. For instance, the canopy-forming perennial macroalgae, such as fucoids and laminarians, are a source of food and habitat for a diverse fish fauna and other organisms in the water, stores carbon emissions, and supports nutrient cycling. Notably, together with sea grasses on soft-bottom habitats, algae account for up to 40 percent of the primary productivity of the coastal zone and a substantial portion of global marine plant biomass (Worm and Lotze, 2006; Worm et al., 1999). However, these perennial macroalgae and their associated communities have recently experienced a severe decline in abundance in various regions such as the Baltic or the Adriatic Sea. Their place has been taken by few species of bloom-forming annual algae that do not provide the same biogeochemical and habitat functions as perennial algae (Worm and Lotze, 2006). Instead, their proliferation the water bodies has significant adverse effects on the coastal ecosystems and their inhabitants.

Excessive nutrients loads are to blame for algal blooms in lakes and other water bodies. The increase in the input of nitrogen and phosphorus to marine waters and other water bodies has made eutrophication a global phenomenon (Granйli, Weberg, and Salomon, 2008; Van Beusekom, 2017). Granйli et al. (2008) assert that eutrophication alters the food web in the aquatic ecosystem resulting in high levels of phytoplankton biomass, which usually results in algal blooms. The increase in harmful algal blooms in fresh, estuarine and coastal marine waters around the world has adversely impacted aquatic life. For instance, the bloom of Chrysochromulina polylepis in Scandinavia in 1988 resulted in the death of fauna and flora in an area exceeding 75,000 km2 (Granйli et al., 2008; Graneґli and Hansen, 2006). Other areas also continue to experience loss of fauna and flora due to high-biomass algal bloom.
Another devastation caused by algal blooms is the depletion of oxygen volumes in water bodies. The respiration and eventual decomposition of high-biomass algal blooms reduce the amount of oxygen available the water which is devastating to the aquatic life (Glibert et al., 2005). Granйli et al. (2008) also argue that some species of high-biomass blooms produce toxins that may inhibit other phytoplankton species from growing. Therefore, an appropriate water quality management system needs to be implemented urgently.
Although algal blooms can be a natural phenomenon, various human activities have been attributed to their widespread. Some of the familiar sources of nitrogen and phosphorus that induce algal blooms include agricultural and aquaculture runoff, fertilizer spillage, and sewage (Tang, Li, and Acharya, 2016; Worm, B., & Lotze, 2006; Van Beusekom, 2017). Other sources also include atmospheric deposition and groundwater flow into the water bodies (Van Beusekom, 2017). Therefore, it is paramount to increase human efforts to reduce water contamination by phosphorus and nitrogen. Excessive contamination of these elements results in water pollution that research has shown leads to eutrophication. This research study examined the impact of different volumes of nitrogen and phosphorus on algal growth in waters. The objective of the study was to establish the effect of the two nutrients on the growth of algae in waterways.
In addition to the two pollutants, this study also investigated the effect of acid rain as a pollutant to algal growth. Therefore, three hypotheses guided this study. Firstly, algal growth was expected to increase as the concentration of nitrogen pollution increased. Secondly, as the level of phosphorus concentration increased, it was anticipated that algal growth would increase, and vice versa. Lastly, the study hypothesized that an increase in the contamination of acid rain would reduce the growth of algae. The study activity lasted two weeks and illuminated the impact of pollution in the aquatic ecosystem on algal growth.
Methods
Two experiments were conducted during this study activity. The first experiment involved inoculating algal cultures in order to understand the conditions necessary for promoting the growth of a green algae culture. This experiment required seven 25 mL test tubes to prepare the following: control, low nitrogen, high nitrogen, low phosphorus, high phosphorous, low acid rain, and high acid rain. Using a labeling tape, each test tube was labeled with the respective group number (group 5), section number, and treatment type as follows: Control = C, Low nitrogen = LN, High nitrogen = HN, Low phosphorous = LP, High phosphorous = HP, Low acid rain = LAR, and High acid rain = HAR.
After labeling was complete, the following activities were performed. Firstly, water, algae, and the pollutants (nitrogen, phosphorus, and acid rain) were added to each respective test tube as per the labeling. Different pipettes were used when adding each type of the pollutant as well as for the algae. Different volumes of the algae culture and the pollutants were added in the respective test tubes as follows: For the control experiment, 2.5 mL of the algae culture together with 12.5 mL of distilled water were added in the test tube C. For the low nitrogen treatment, 2.5 mL of algae, 1.5 mL of nitrogen pollutant, and 11.0 mL of distilled water were added to test tube LN. For the high nitrogen treatment, 2.5 mL of the algae ...