• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 1999

Fibrocapsa japonica (Raphidophyceae) is regarded as a harmful algal bloom organism in Japanese waters, where it has been linked to fish kills. Fibrocapsa is a common species in New Zealand coastal waters, particularly in the Hauraki Gulf, where it has regularly bloomed in the spring under E1 Nino climate conditions for the past six years. The New Zealand isolate had 1.4 times more total polyunsaturated acids than the Japanese isolate under the same growth conditions, suggesting that eicosapentaenoic acid in particular coold be used as a discriminating chemotaxonomic marker. The molecular probes tested showed no differential binding of the raphidophytes to lectins, but oligonucleotide probes targeted F. japonica ribosomal RNA bound specifically to both isolates. Neither strain was toxic in mouse or neuroblastoma bioassays. There is no evidence that the New Zealand F. japonica isolates investigated to date produce ichthyotoxins.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.630-637
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• 2018

The high rate algal ponds (HRAP) powered and mixed by a paddlewheel have been widely used for over 50 years to culture microalgae for the production of various products. Since light incidence is limited to the surface, water depth can affect microalgal growth in HRAP. To investigate the effect of water depth on microalgal growth, a mixed microalgal culture constituting three major strains of microalgae including Chlorella sp., Scenedesmus sp., and Stigeoclonium sp. (CSS), was grown at different water depths (20, 30, and 40 cm) in the HRAP, respectively. The HRAP with 20cm of water depth had about 38% higher biomass productivity per unit area ($6.16{\pm}0.33g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$) and required lower nutrients and energy consumption than the other water depths. Specifically, the algal biomass of HRAP under 20cm of water depth had higher settleability through larger floc size (83.6% settleability within 5 min). These results indicate that water depth can affect the harvesting process as well as cultivation of microalgae. Therefore, we conclude that water depth is an important parameter in HRAP design for mass cultivation of microalgae.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.1290-1302
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• 2016

Microalgae are being researched for their potential as attractive biofuel feedstock, particularly for their lipid production. For maximizing biofuel production, it is necessary to explore the effects of environmental factors on algal lipid-producing potential. In this study, the effects of nitrogen (N) sources (NO₂-N, NO₃-N, urea-N, NH₄-N, and N-deficiency) and carbon-to-nitrogen ratios (C/N= 0, 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0) on algal lipid-producing potential of Chlorella sp. HQ were investigated. The results showed that for Chlorella growth and lipid accumulation potential, NO₂-N was the best amongst the nitrogen sources, and NO₃-N and urea-N also contributed to algal growth and lipid accumulation potential, but NH₄-N and N-deficiency instead caused inhibitory effects. Moreover, the results indicated that algal lipid-producing potential was related to C/N ratios. With NO₂-N treatment and carbon addition (C/N = 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0), total lipid yield was enhanced by 12.96-20.37%, but triacylglycerol (TAG) yields decreased by 25.52-94.31%. As for NO₃-N treatment, carbon addition led to a 17.82-57.43%/25.86-82.67% reduction of total lipid/TAG yields. When NH₄-N was used as the nitrogen source, total lipid/TAG yields were increased by 46.67-113.33%/28.99-74.76% with carbon addition. The total lipid/TAG yields of urea-N treatment varied with C/N ratios. Overall, the highest TAG yield (TAG yield: 38.75 ± 5.21 mg/l; TAG content: 44.16 ± 4.35%) was achieved under NO₂-N treatment without carbon addition (C/N = 0), the condition that had merit for biofuel production.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.92-98
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• 2013

Microalgal cultivation using wastewater is now regarded as essential for biodiesel production, as two goals can be achieved simultaneously; that is, nutrient removal efficiency and biomass production. Therefore, this study examined the effects of carbon sources, the N:P ratio, and the hydraulic retention time (HRT) to identify the optimal conditions for nutrient removal efficiency and biomass production. The effluent from a 2nd lagoon was used to cultivate microalgae. Whereas the algal species diversity and lipid content increased with a longer HRT, the algal biomass productivity decreased. Different carbon sources also affected the algal species composition. Diatoms were dominant with an increased pH when bicarbonate was supplied. However, 2% $CO_2$ gas led to a lower pH and the dominance of filamentous green algae with a much lower biomass productivity. Among the experiments, the highest chlorophyll-a concentration and lipid productivity were obtained with the addition of phosphate up to 0.5 mg/l P, since phosphorus was in short supply compared with nitrogen. The N and P removal efficiencies were also higher with a balanced N:P ratio, based on the addition of phosphate. Thus, optimizing the N:P ratio for the dominant algae could be critical in attaining higher algal growth, lipid productivity, and nutrient removal efficiency.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.7-24
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• 2008

Masan-Jinhae Bay, in Korea, is known for its frequent algal bloom outbreaks. This study was conducted in order to examine the environmental characteristics of the area, with the aim of identifying indicators that could be used to speculate about future algal blooms. The water temperatures and salinities in Haengam Bay, one of the small inner bays within Jinhae, appeared to re relatively higher than those in Masan and Jinhae bays, across most seasons. Furthermore, stratification begins to develop in all three regions from spring to summer as a result of the local heating effects and an increase in the efficient from the surrounding land. As a result, anoxic conditions appear near the bottom layer of the bay, leading to the deterioration of water quality, which has been identified as one of the causes of bloom outbreaks. Compared to Haengam and Jinhae bays, concentrations of DIN and DIP were remarkably higher in Masan Bay. However, the mean ratio of DIN to DIP was 3.3$\sim$13.6 in all three regions throughout the year, suggesting that nitrogen can function as a growth-limiting factor for phytoplankton. The results of mathematical models showed that cumulative organic pollutants may be a trigger for direct algal bloom occurrences, since residual tidal currents appeared to be less than $3\;cm\;\cdot\;s^{-1}$. Furthermore, computed DO concentrations in the four small inner bays of Jinhae during the summer appeared to be $3\;cm\;\cdot\;l^{-1}$ indicating a hypoxic state. Likewise, computed Chl-a concentrations turned out to be more than $0.01\;mg\;\cdot\;l^{-1}$, indicating eutrophication across most seasons. Based on the overall results, Masan-Jinhae Bay appeared to possess a very high potential for algal bloom outbreaks at anytime during the year.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1123-1132
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• 2014

This study evaluated the growth and nutrient removal ability of an indigenous algal consortium on real untreated municipal wastewater in a high rate algal pond (HRAP). The HRAP was operated semicontinuously under different hydraulic retention times (HRT: 2, 4, 6, and 8 days). The average removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand, and total nitrogen and phosphate of real municipal wastewater were maintained at $85.44{\pm}5.10%$, $92.74{\pm}5.82%$, and $82.85{\pm}8.63%$, respectively, in 2 day HRT. Algae dominated the consortium and showed high settling efficiency (99%), and biomass and lipid productivity of $0.50{\pm}0.03g/l/day$ and $0.103{\pm}0.0083g/l/day$ (2day HRT), respectively. Fatty acid methyl ester analysis revealed a predominance of palmitate (C16:0), palmitoleate (C16:1), linoleate (C18:2), and linolenate (C18:3). Microalgal diversity analyses determined the presence of Chlorella, Scenedesmus, and Stigeoclonium as the dominant microalgae. The algal consortium provides significant value not only in terms of energy savings and nutrient removal but also because of its bioenergy potential as indicated by the lipid content (20-23%) and FAME profiling.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 2009

Seasonal variation in the biomass of eelgrass (Zostera marina) and epiphytic algae in two eelgrass beds (Dongdae and Aenggang Bay) around Namhae Island was investigated throughout 2005. Shoot density and eelgrass biomass differed across months and locations. Peak shoot density occurred from April to August 2005, whereas eelgrass biomass was higher in July and August 2005. Shoot density as well as eelgrass biomass were higher in Dongdae Bay compared to Aenggang Bay. A total of 21 epiphytic algal species (4 Chlorophyta, 2 Phaeophyta, and 15 Rhodophyta) were collected, and dominant species included Polysiphonia japonica, Lomentaria hakodantensis, Symphyocladia latiuscula, Champia sp., and Heterosiphonia japonica. Seasonal variation in both the species composition and biomass of epiphytic algae was substantial: peak epiphytic algal biomass occurred in January and December 2005. We also observed high epiphytic algal biomass in the eelgrass bed of Dongdae Bay. Seasonal changes in the biomass of eelgrass and epiphytic algae were primarily influenced by water temperature, whereas those of the epiphytic algal community were also correlated with eelgrass (substrate) morphology and growth, the life cycle of epiphytic algae, and physical characteristics within eelgrass beds. The spatial variation of eelgrass density and biomass were also limited by sediment characteristics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.745-752
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• 2007

A $\beta$-glucosidase from the algal lytic bacterium Sinorhizobium kostiense AFK-13, grown in complex media containing cellobiose, was purified to homogeneity by successive ammonium sulfate precipitation, and anion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatographies. The enzyme was shown to be a monomeric protein with an apparent molecular mass of 52 kDa and isoelectric point of approximately 5.4. It was optimally active at pH 6.0 and $40^{\circ}C$ and possessed a specific activity of 260.4 U/mg of protein against $4-nitrophenyl-\beta-D-glucopyranoside$(pNPG). A temperature-stability analysis demonstrated that the enzyme was unstable at $50^{\circ}C$ and above. The enzyme did not require divalent cations for activity, and its activity was significantly suppressed by $Hg^{+2}\;and\;Ag^+$, whereas sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS) and Triton X-100 moderately inhibited the enzyme to under 70% of its initial activity. In an algal lytic activity analysis, the growth of cyanobacteria, such as Anabaena flos-aquae, A. cylindrica, A. macrospora, Oscillatoria sancta, and Microcystis aeruginosa, was strongly inhibited by a treatment of 20 ppm/disc or 30 ppm/disc concentration of the enzyme.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.1 s.115
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• pp.138-144
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• 2006

Algal growth potential test (AGPT) has been used as a tool for assessing biological productivity potential in the aquatic ecosystems. This study was conducted to compare the productivity potentials of large reservoirs (Lakes Andong, Hapchon and Jinyang, and Naktong estuarine dam) and river sites (Sangju, Koryung, and Samlangjin) located in the Naktong River watershed. AGPT was conducted in both non-monsoon and mosoon season (February, April, July and September) of 2003, using Microcystis aeruginosa as a test alga. The AGPs in the reservoirs were relatively much lower than those of river sites. The river AGPs increased towards upstream close to the influent streams, while it generally decreased towards downstream. Immediately after the abrupt increase in influent discharge in summer, the AGP became similar between midstream and downstream sites. The water quality of river and reservoirs deteriorated during the drought period in accordance with AGP: it was the highest during this period. The AGPs showed the closest correlation with the P concentration, leading to the conclusion that bioavailable P is highly influential to the algal growth in both lentic and lotic ecosystems in the Naktong River watershed. Based on the AGPs, the water quality of tested sites was likely eutrophic. Our results suggest that AGPT be a useful tool in evaluating the productivity potential and trophic state of the water body as well as determining the nutrients that limit the growth of algae.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.715-723
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• 2016

This study investigated the effect of high concentration of free ammonia on microalgal growth and substrate removal by applying real wastewater nitrogen ratio. To test of this, the conditions of free ammonia 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 mg-N/L are compared. After 3 days of incubation, algal growth of Chlorella vulgaris and carbon removal rate are respectively lower in the reactors of FA 12, 15 mg-N/L compared to the others. This indicates that the high concentration of free ammonia, in this case, above 12 mg-N/L, has negative effect on algal growth and metabolic activity. Also, high concentration of free ammonia causes the proton imbalance, ammonium accumulation in algae and has toxicity for these reasons. So, we have to consider free ammonia in applying the microalgae to wastewater treatment system by the way of diluting wastewater or controlling pH and temperature.