MICROBIAL MATS REMOVE NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS FROM AQUACULTURE EFFLUENTS

摘要

Research has shown that mi-crobial mats are effective at removing nitrogen and phosphorus from aquaculture effluents. In addition, they provide increased dissolved oxygen for the cultured organisms and promote nitrification. Growing adequate mat stockcan be a time-consuming process, however, and the mats can be susceptible to fouling by aquatic insects. Intensive aquaculture systems produce effluents with excess nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter that can increase stress and promote disease incultured organisms. In addition, these effluents contribute to the eutroph-ication of the water bodies into which they are discharged. Integrated aquaculture provides a solution to this nutrient loading by introducing plant or animal system components that are able to utilize this waste as nutrients. In addition to decreasing nutrient loading, plant components provide increased dissolved oxygen.