How Increased Levels of Ammonia Affect Algal Growth

Abstract

The health of aquatic ecosystems can be observed by studying algae. Algal growth is benefitted by adding nutrients necessary for growth such as ammonia (as a source of nitrogen). We studied the amount of cellular density before and after ammonia was added to select water samples. We tested this by adding 2%, 4%, and 6% of an ammonia solution to water collected from a freshwater source. We found that the at a 2% solution the algae grew but at higher concentrations cell density was much lower. An increase in pH with higher concentrations of ammonia could have caused a decreased growth rate.