What stimulates algae growth?
Factors that directly affect algal growth include available forms of nitrogen and phosphorus, sunlight, and temperature. 2. What level of phosphorus does it take to stimulate algae growth? Depending on geographical location, environmental conditions, water column characteristics, etc., surface water concentrations ranging from 4 – 20 ug/L can trigger an algae bloom. 3. How do algae affect DO (dissolved oxygen) levels in the water column? Periodic Oxygen depletion, resulting from algae respiration and decomposition, can occur during algae blooms. Example: During the day algae take up carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the water column through photosynthesis. This can cause DO levels to increase. During the night, algae take up oxygen and release carbon dioxide into the water column.This can cause DO levels to decrease. Algae, suspended below the surface, cannot photosynthesize and, as a result, they decompose. The decomposition process consumes dissolved oxygen, and, as a result, DO
