Date of Award:
5-1-1979
Document Type:
Dissertation
Degree Name:
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department:
Biology
Department name when degree awarded
Life Sciences:Biology
Committee Chair(s)
Donald B. Porcella
Committee
Donald B. Porcella
Committee
V. Dean Adams
Abstract
The effect of oil shale leachate and salinity additions on the productivity of freshwater algae were studied in the laboratory utilizing batch bioassays. These batch bioassays were used to screen variations of ten salts in single and multiple additions; water extractions of different processed and unprocessed oil shales; and the concentration effects of both the salts and the oil shale extractions on the productivity of standard test algae and indigenous algae from Lake Powell. The batch bottle bioassays were conducted following the standard algal assay procedure as closely as possible. Variations in the standard algal assay procedure included media variation with the use of indigenous algal genera and the use of three different algal genera for test innoculum in the bioassay procedure. The biomass was monitored using optical density, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and/or cell counts. The indigenous algal genera were found to be more tolerant to salinity addition than the standard test alga. The productivity of an indigenous algal genera was also stimulated by adding oil shale extract at lower concentrations. Higher concentrations of oil shale leachate inhibited the indigenous algal productivity.
Recommended Citation
Cleave, Mary Louise, "Effects of Oil Shale Leachate on Phytoplankton Productivity" (1979). Biology. 440.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd_biology/440
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