Removing constraints on the biomass production of freshwater macroalgae by manipulating water exchange to manage nutrient flux.

ABSTRACT: Freshwater macroalgae represent a largely overlooked group of phototrophic organisms that could play an important role within an industrial ecology context in both utilising waste nutrients and water and supplying biomass for animal feeds and renewable chemicals and fuels. This study used water from the intensive aquaculture of freshwater fish (Barramundi) to examine how the biomass production rate and protein content of the freshwater macroalga Oedogonium responds to increasing the flux of nutrients and carbon, by either increasing water exchange rates or through the addition of supplementary nitrogen and CO2. Biomass production rates were highest at low flow rates (0.1-1 vol.day-1) using raw pond water. The addition of CO2 to cultures increased biomass production rates by between 2 and 2

SUBMITTER: Cole AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4085068 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature