The Effects of Temperature Change on pH Levels and Dissolved Oxygen in the Water Environment of Algae

Abstract

Our investigation observe and identify a correlation between the change in pH levels and dissolved oxygen based on the change in environmental temperature in the water in which our algal specimens grow. We started by creating three samples for each desired environmental temperature of 25°C and 37°C and measured the dissolved oxygen and pH level before placing them in an incubator, which had a constant light source, for four total weeks. We then recorded the dissolved oxygen and pH levels again in the following weeks. The results of our experiment indicate that there was a constant increase in pH levels, with an average difference of +0.90 and + 0.72 at the temperatures of 25°C and 37°C, respectively, while there was a decrease in dissolved oxygen in the water samples, with an average difference of -0.01 mg/L and -0.30 mg/L at the respective temperatures. The results of our experiment indicates that there is no direct effect of pH and dissolved oxygen on the growth of algae in a water environment but rather a collateral effect from the growth of algae in different temperatures.