Water Pollution – Phycological Perspectives

Water pollution exerts a pressure of selection on algal populations. In spite of a possible adaptation, often a changed diversity and sociological structure result, from which other effects on higher levels of the nutrient chain may emanate. There are represented some biological indices for characterizing algal communities which may serve as a biological measure of pollution and selfpurification, the problem of diversity being especially taken into account. Moreover, algal tests are used for representing the trophic situation and for determining the limiting nutrient, but also for determining the toxic influencing of biocenosis by hydrocarbons, too. Special attention is paid to heavy metals with regard to their synergistic action and bioaccumulation. On the other hand, the mass culture of algae is a valuable method of wastewater treatment and the recovery of valuable materials, and algae ponds provide an important technique for advanced wastewater purification.