1.

Combined use of chlorophyll a and phycocyanin fluorescence sensors for quantification and differentiation of phytoplankton: a useful approach for small surface water bodies

The use of submerged fluorescence sensors has been accepted as a fast and simple phytoplankton monitoring method, providing real-time results on a detailed spatial and temporal scale based on in-vivo fluorescence of pigments involved in photosynthesis. For phytoplankton quantification and differentiation, simultaneous measurements with chlorophyll a (CHL) and phycocyanin (PC) fluorescence sensor were carried out. Differences in CHL and PC fluorescence intensity among five phytoplankton representatives were investigated. The results were compared to standard measures for phytoplankton quantity (cell counts, amount of extracted pigments, biovolume) in order to select the most appropriate calibration measure

2.

Electrochemical inactivation of cyanobacteria and microcystin degradation using boron doped diamond anode (BDDA) - A potential tool in bloom control.

Electrochemical oxidation has been used to inflict injuries to cyanobacteria, halt their proliferation as for microcystin degradation in in vitro conditions. The electrochemical treatment resulted in abolishment of cell buoyancy regulation, cell proliferation arrest and eventually in cell death. The effectiveness of microcystin degradation was established using HPLC/PDA analysis while the biological activity of the products was estimated using a colorimetric protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) inhibition assay. The results indicate a potential for application of electro-oxidation methods in the control of bloom events by taking advantage of specific intrinsic ecological characteristics of bloom forming cyanobacteria.