The use of carbonate equilibrium chemistry in quantifying algal carbon uptake kinetics

Summary

The method of utilizing the principles of carbonate equilibrium chemistry to monitor the rate of inorganic carbon uptake by a variety of algal species is presented and discussed. The usefulness of this technique is demonstrated for both batch and chemostat algal culture. Data obtained from carbon limited batch and chemostat cultures suggest that the specific growth rate of a variety of algal species may best be represented as a Monod response to the free carbon dioxide concentration. The monitoring of carbonate equilibrium in the batch method provides a simple, rapid and inexpensive technique for obtaining rates of algal carbon fixation. This technique is well suited for obtaining the large volumes of detailed kinetic data necessary in building a basis for understanding the factors involved in algal productivity and algae species shifts, in both controlled and natural aquatic ecosystems.