This chapter emphasizes relating the different methods of using algae in ecological assessment to the ways that information is used by resource managers with the goals of improving quality of assessments and laying the foundation for future advancements.
Evaluation of the potential of algae production for biofuel and other products at various locations throughout the world requires assessment of algae productivity under varying light conditions and different reactor layouts.
However, the current design of algae ponds lacks visual assessment of hydrodynamic characteristics in the pond, resulting in the appearance of dead zones where the flow is stagnant and in the presence of non-uniform velocity throughout the pond, both of which are still major problems because of their negative impact on algae growth.
Algae have been used in assessments of water quality for more than a century.
Many characteristics of algae are used in ecological assessment, ranging from biomass, chemical composition, algal physiology, species composition, and environmental sensitivities and tolerances of species.
Techno-economic assessment of ensiling algae and corn stover blends suggest it to be a cost effective approach compared to drying.
Algae were identified via morphological assessment (Bellinger and Sigee2010).
In this chapter, we describe a framework for ecological assessment and how characteristics of algae in streams, lakes, and wetlands can be used in different ways in assessments.
Results can also aid in estimating relative algae yield and growth rates for technoeconomic assessments that incorporate water recycling.
Further measurements at the different steps of drinking water treatment allow the assessment of the removal efficiencies for the algae themselves, their toxins as well as algae-released drinking-water-relevant taste & odour (T and O) compounds/precursors. New measuring tools are developed in order to assess the integrity status of algae cells and thus the risk of toxin release.
Assessments of aquatic toxicity (TAQUA) were generated by merging separate assessments of the toxicity to fish, algae, daphnids, and other aquatic species (as provided in Tables A11, A12, A13, and A14 of the FCEC report).
