Chlorophyll-a determination - a reliable method for phytoplankton biomass assessment

Abstract

Phytoplankton biomass assessment is one of the major objectives in an aquatic ecosystem in order to evaluate the amount of energy for the next trophic level and also for trophic state prediction. Spectrometric determination of chlorophyll-a content is a simply and quick alternative method for the algal biomass evaluation. Although it is not so precise as the microscopic count, this method becomes soon adopted in the water management. The paper shows a comparison between two methods for algal biomass assessment (microscopic count and determination of chlorophyll-a content) in some aquatic ecosystems of Danube Delta in 2000-2002 period.