바로가기메뉴

본문 바로가기 주메뉴 바로가기

logo

Assessment of the physico-chemical quality and extent of algal proliferation in water from an impounding reservoir prone to eutrophication

Journal of Ecology and Environment / Journal of Ecology and Environment, (P)2287-8327; (E)2288-1220
2019, v.43 no.1, pp.22-30
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41610-018-0094-z
Soudesh Mohun Ballah (University of Mauritius)
Vishwakalyan Bhoyroo (University of Mauritius)
Hudaa Neetoo (University of Mauritius)
  • Downloaded
  • Viewed

Abstract

Background: Piton du Milieu (PdM) impounding reservoir is suspected to be eutrophic based on the elevated level of orthophosphate and nitrate. Water supplies from three adjacent rivers are primarily thought to contribute to the nutrient enrichment of the reservoir. It is also suspected that there is leaching of orthophosphate, nitrate and organic matter into the rivers during rainfall events and also as a result of anthropogenic activities within the catchment area. The aim of this study was to ascertain the impact of nutrient loading on the water quality of PdM water and on the population of freshwater microalgae in the reservoir. The enumeration and identification of algae from PdM were performed by differential interference contrast microscopy. Dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH were determined by electrometric methods, whereas nutrient levels, silica and total organic carbon (TOC) were determined by instrumentation techniques. Results: Annual mean orthophosphate, nitrate and total organic carbon input from the three feeders within the catchment area of PdM reached levels as high as 0.09 mg/L, 0.4 mg/L and 2.62 ppm respectively. Over a 12-month period, mean TOC concentration in the reservoir was 2.32 ppm while the mean algal cell count was 4601 cells/mL. The dominant algal species identified were Oscillatoria, Cyclotella, Navicula and Cosmarium. Conclusion: This study highlights the trophic state of the reservoir water and clearly points to the need for constant monitoring in order to avoid the occurrence of an impending harmful algal bloom.

keywords
Algae, Proliferation, Reservoir, Mauritius

Reference

1.

Bellinger EG, Sigee DC. Freshwater algae; 2010. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470689554.

2.

Cox CR. Operation and control of water treatment processes. Geneva: World Health Organisation; 1965.

3.

Dodds WK. Freshwater ecology: concepts and environmental applications. A volume in aquatic ecology; 2002.

4.

Eaton AD, Clesceri LS, Greenberg AE. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 19th ed. Washington, D.C.: American Public Health Association; 1995.

5.

Fried S, Mackie B, Nothwehr E. Nitrate and phosphate levels positively affect the growth of algae species found in Perry Pond. 2003. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266894457_Nitrate_and_phosphate_levels_positively_affect_the_growth_of_algae_species_found_in_Perry_Pond. Accessed 6 Feb 2018.

6.

Gavrilova OV, Voloshko LN, Titova NN, Bedyagina OM, Gromov BV. Study of the toxic cyanobacterium Oscillatoria agardhii Gom. in culture. Int Journal Algae. 2002;4(3):93–103. https://doi.org/10.1615/interjalgae.v4.i3.60.

7.

Hession WC, Storm DE. Watershed-level uncertainties: implications for phosphorus management and eutrophication. J Env Qual. 2000;29(4):1172. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2000.00472425002900040019x. Accessed 6 Feb 2018.

8.

Humbert JF. Rapport déxpertise sur les reservoir déau utilises pour la production déau potable sur l’Ile Maurice et sur Lúsine de traitement de léau de la Nicoliere. Paris: INRA; 2012.

9.

Jawaheer S, Bhagooli R, Bahorun T. Survey of microalgae at La Nicoliere. Reduit:UOM; 2010.

10.

Kristiansen J. Dispersal of freshwater algae—a review. Biogeography of freshwater algae; 1996. p. 151–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0908-8_15.

11.

Liedholm J. Primary production in freshwater reservoirs in Mauritius: Uppsala University; 2007. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache.Accessed 6 Feb 2018

12.

Mohamed ZA. Breakthrough of Oscillatoria limnetica and microcystin toxins into drinking water treatment plants – examples from the Nile River, Egypt. Water SA. 2016;42(1):161. https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v42i1.16.

13.

Palmer CM. Algae in water supplies: an illustrated manual on the identification, significance, and control of algae in water supplies; 1960.

14.

Palmer CM. Algae in water supplies of the United States. In: Algae and man;1964. p. 239–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1719-7_12.

15.

Prescott GW. How to know the fresh-water algae; an illustrated key for identifying the more common fresh-water algae to genus, with hundreds of species named pictured and with numerous aids for their study; 1954. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.5626.

16.

Rathore SS, Chandravanshi P, Chandravanshi A, Jaiswal K. Eutrophication: impacts of excess nutrient inputs on aquatic ecosystem. J Agric Vet Sci. 2016;9(10):89–96. http://iosrjournals.org/iosr-javs/papers/Vol9-Issue10/Version-1/Q0910018996.pdf. (IOSR-JAVS) e-ISSN: 2319–2380, p-ISSN: 2319–2372. Accessed 6 Feb 2018.

17.

Sigee DC. Freshwater microbiology; 2004. https://doi.org/10.1002/0470011254.

18.

Volterra L, Boualam M, Menesguen A, Duguet JP, Duchemin J, Bonnefoy X. European Commission Eutrophication and health Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 2002 — 28 pp. — 21 x 29,7 cm ISBN 92-894-4413-4.

19.

Water Resources Unit. Water resources in Mauritius; ground water resources, main water indicators, 2011–2015 and reservoirs. 2014. http://publicutilities.govmu.org/English/WRU/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed 6 Feb 2018.

20.

Yokota. Unpublished report of research conducted to dermine water quality in PdM reservoir by a Japanese expert for the Central Water Authority Mauritius; 1990.

Journal of Ecology and Environment