The Effects of Nitrate Levels on Algal Growth

Run-off continues to pollute water systems with nitrates, yielding large amounts of algal growth. This growth can be harmful to the remaining aquatic ecosystem, since the algae decreases the amount of oxygen present in the environment for other organisms. With these consequences of unregulated algae growth, it is evident that in some situations, it would be beneficial to have the ability to better control the growth and spread of algae. Information about the optimum nitrate levels for algal growth may be used to harness the growth of algae and better prevent against unwanted algal growth that may cause harm to other organisms in aquatic environments. This experiment demonstrates the relationship between nitrate levels in algae- 92 containing, aquatic environments and the resulting amounts of algal growth. Nitrates have been obtained from sodium nitrate compounds. Through manipulating the concentration levels of these nitrates in the aquatic environments of algae samples, effects on algal growth have been revealed. These effects on algal growth have been observed through spectrophotometry,