Date Approved
2008
Degree Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department or School
Biology
Committee Member
Steven N. Francoeur, PhD, Chair
Committee Member
Peggy Liggit, PhD
Committee Member
Kristin Judd, PhD
Abstract
Water quality monitoring has traditionally been done by measuring periphytic algal biomass that has grown on fertilized or unfertilized patches of habitat produced by nutrientdiffusing substrata (NDS). This method requires the destruction of the accumulated periphyton communities and thus does not allow for convenient monitoring through time. Optical fluorometric methods of estimating biomass and photosynthetic activity have been used in saline environments, but generally not over different nutrient treatments and not for a substantial duration. This study evaluated the use of a pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometer for measuring biomass and photosynthetic activity in conjunction with NDS over several weeks. The results of this study suggest that this is a comparable methodology not only for measuring periphytic responses to nutrients but also for evaluating the effect the nutrient changes have on overall photosynthetic efficiency.
Recommended Citation
Whorley, Sarah Brooke, "Rapid measurements of periphytic responses to nutrients using PAM fluorimetry" (2008). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 202.
https://commons.emich.edu/theses/202