Life Sciences Commons^™

Growth Of Selenastrum Capricornutum Printz In Natural Waters Treated With Copper Sulfate, Gerald Eugene Schulz

Dissertations and Theses

The green alga, Selenastrum capricornutum Printz, was used in an algal bioassay to determine the toxic properties of copper in various natural lake waters of Oregon. Lake water was collected and brought back to the laboratory where it was treated with various copper concentrations and inoculated with a cell suspension of the test alga. Growth of the alga was determined by direct cell counts. The copper ion activity, pH, and absorbance of the test cultures were also determined. The growth of the alga was ·found to depend upon the water tested and also upon the copper concentration used.