XVI International Botanical Congess

Cultures of diatoms, green algae, and cyanobacteria grown with various inorganic nitrogen sources was investigated using log-phase growth experiments. Batch cultures were grown using defined media, with equimolar nitrogen supplied as urea, ammonia, nitrate, or nitrite. Green algae were the most versatile in use of all nitrogen forms offered, whereas blue-greens were more selective in utilization of supplied nitrogen. Control of blue-green algae through nitrogen manipulations might serve as a management approach in water bodies where sediment oxygen levels can be manipulated to influence nitrogen transformations.