Response of Nile Phytoplankton to Algicide (CuSO4, 5H2O) In Multispecies Chemostat Experiments

Abstract

The addition of CuSO4 . 5H2O (algicide) to cultures of phytoplankton populations from the river Nile, grown under steady-state conditions using chemostat, resulted in remarkable alterations in species composition, total algal counts and toxicity of algicide to various species. The total algal population and the number of species were considerably reduced by increasing the concentration of the algicide in culture vessels, irrespective of the dilution rates used. Fragilaria, Anabaena, Microcystis, and Selenastrum were considered to be very susceptible to copper sulfate, while Chlorella, Pediastrum and Scenedesmus were resistant.