A set of marine microalgae bioassays for the evaluation of biological water quality in enclosure areas in south of Spain
Garrido-Pérez, M.C.; Acevedo-Merino, A.; Nebot-Sanz, E.; Sales-Márquez, D.
Water Science and Technology a Journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research 47(9): 85-92
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0273-1223 PMID: 12830945 Document Number: 565211
The aim of this study has been the identification of the nutritive status (oligotrophy end eutrophy) in four enclosure areas from Gulf of Cadiz (Southwest Iberian Peninsula-Europe) by means of a battery of water column toxicity tests. The test organisms were four marine microalgae which comprised a wide taxonomic range. Growth tests with receiving waters from the four study areas were carried out under two nutritive conditions; with and without additional nutrient-enriched medium. The results of both bioassays were used to define a new eutrophication index (I(E)). The I(E) index obtained presents a good correlation with the traditional physical-chemical parameters in the enclosure areas; nevertheless in open waters where the dilution processes are more important the results show less correlation.