Excessive blue-green algal growth on lakes is caused by progressive fertilization of the water and has become a common problem in many countries. The toxic genera are normally Oscillatoria, Aphanezemnon, Microcystis and Anabaena. These are single-celled algae which have the means to control their position in the water column by gas vacuoles, and they exist mainly in colonies, some of which resemble grass cuttings. Blue-green algae orientate by the sun. A scum is formed on the surface and as the algae eventually die, and their cell structure breaks down, internal chemicals are released, often of a toxic nature. Attempts have been made to control populations by chemical and physical means which have concentrated mainly on the decrease of phosphates and nitrates. Some blue-green algae, however, can convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates which can be used for organic synthesis, hence nitrate control has little or no effect (UK WSA, 1994). Phosphates can be controlled within water...
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Bibliography
Collins, M.D., 1995. Is weather the single most important factor controlling the development of blue-green algae scum? Weather, (Reading UK), 50(6).
UK Water Services Association, 1994. Water Bulletin 632, 25 November.
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© 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Herschy, R.W. (1998). Algal growth on lakes. In: Hydrology and Lakes. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4513-1_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4513-1_12
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