Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Analysis Of Ecological Change In Marine Ecosystems Via Novel Imaging And Spectroscopic Techniques On Microalgae Cells, Morgan Breonne Mcconico-Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations

With the increase in anthropogenic pollutants such as: atmospheric CO₂ [carbon dioxide], fossil fuel combustion and fertilizer run off, the fate of the environment is of great importance. Through industrialization, the greenhouse gas, CO₂, is a major contributor to global warming; while nitrogen based fertilizer, causes the production of toxins due to harmful algal blooms. Both chemical impacts dissolve into marine ecosystems effecting the chemical composition of organisms such as microalgae. Microalgae remediate these changes by sequestering carbon and nitrogen; thus there is a need to understand how these impacts affect the ecosystem by detecting the change …

A Novel Approach To Assess Environmental Changes In Marine Ecosystems Via Spectroscopic Analyses Of Microalgae, Rebecca Burke Horton

Doctoral Dissertations

Chemical analyses for environmental monitoring encounter many challenges which are imposed by a multitude of chemically complex and interrelated processes. For such investigations, innovative analytical methodologies must be developed which characterize chemical shifts of key environmental parameters in order to deduce insights into their ecological relevance. This dissertation is driven by an analytical chemistry perspective to develop chemical sensing techniques with the ultimate goal of gaining a deeper understanding of environmental changes and their chemical origins.

In order to overcome limitations inherent to any chemical sensor designed for a specific task, new paths are pursued which are based on the …