Nitrate and ammonium ions contents in field minibioreactors with Antarctic freshwater autotrophs

• Main Authors: Coufalík, Pavel, Váczi, Peter, Zvěřina, Ondřej, Trnková, Kateřina, Skácelová, Kateřina, Barták, Miloš, Komárek, Josef
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Masaryk Univerzity 2013
• Subjects: nitrate; ammonium; minibioreactor; microorganism; James Ross Island; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Ross Island; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://journals.muni.cz/CPR/article/view/12967

The content of nitrate and ammonium ions in aquatic environment is an important factor in the development of microorganisms colonies especially in low-nutrient environment. In this study, field experiments using small-volume minibioreactors were performed directly on the James Ross Island in Antarctica in order to describe changes in nitrate and ammonium ions contents in the Antarctic environment The ion concentrations in minibioreactors with local freshwater autotrophs was monitored for increased eutro-phication conditions. The content of nitrogen forms was determined in water samples taken from the minibioreactors regularly. Samples were taken to the laboratory of the Johann Gregor Mendel station where nitrogen content was evaluated using ion-selective electrodes. Furthermore, the freshwater autotrophs was subjected to basic taxonomic study. Closed system of the minibioreactors allowed the monitoring of nitrogen speciation changes which take place in the environment. These changes can be attributed to both the biological activity of microorganisms and external conditions. Increased eutrophication of water did not induce a rapid development of the freshwater autotrophs.