Biochemical oxygen demand and algae: Fractionation of phytoplankton and nonphytoplankton respiration in a large river

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Water Resources Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/WR026i004p00671· OSTI ID:6002074

Cohen, R R.H. ^[1]

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1. Colorado School of Mines, Golden (United States)

Mass balance equations for dissolved oxygen in streams are formulated to account for, among other variables, algal respiration (R), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). The oxygen consumption measured in primary productivity-respiration analyses is not R but is total community oxygen consumption (TCOC), and BOD measurements are complicated by undefined algal components. Ultimate BOD was found to be 0.24 mg of O{sub 2} consumed per {mu}g chlorophyll a and carbonaceous BOD was 0.20 per {mu}g chlorophyll a in excess of background BOD. The results were similar for live and dead algae. Phytoplankton respiration was fractionated from nonphytoplankton oxygen consumption (NPOC) by the regression of respiration against chlorophyll a to obtain a y intercept of zero chlorophyll. The intercepts, NPOC, closely matched O{sub 2} consumption measured when phytoplankton biomass was very low. Phytoplankton respiration, calculated as the residual of the difference between TCOC and NPOC,ranged from 0.2 to 1.5 (mean = 0.88) mg O{sub 2} per mg chlorophyll a per hour, close to the literature value of 1 (in cultures). Depth-integrated (DI) phytoplankton respiration was 1/4 to 1/3 of DI gross primary productivity and 1-3% of maximum primary productivity. The separation of phytoplankton R and NPOC permitted the demonstration that R probably is not a simple function of productivity.

• OSTI ID: 6002074
• Journal Information: Water Resources Research; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resources Research; (United States) Vol. 26:4; ISSN 0043-1397; ISSN WRERA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
550200 -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ABSORPTION
ADSORBENTS
ALGAE
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOADSORBENTS
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHEMISTRY
DISSOLVED GASES
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FLUIDS
GASES
KINETICS
MASS BALANCE
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
PHYTOPLANKTON
PLANKTON
PLANTS
POLLUTION
REACTION KINETICS
RESPIRATION
RIVERS
SOLUTES
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
STREAMS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACE WATERS
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY