Abstract
Bioconvection patterns are often observed in microalgae suspensions of randomly, but on average upwardly, swimming microalgae which are little denser than water. When we culture microalgae in the laboratory, we usually add aeration for mixing the culture fluid and supplying oxygen and carbon dioxide. However, the effect of aeration on the bioconvection pattern and the transport phenomena in the suspension is unclear. In this study, we investigated bioconvection pattern in a suspension of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under the condition with aeration. Bioconvection pattern in a cylindrical container was visualized by red illumination, and white light for phototaxis could be added from above. Small bubbles were injected by a needle connected to a syringe. Observation of bioconvection patterns of microalgae suspension with aeration showed three kinds of flow patterns depending on the bubble flow rate. When there was no bubble flow, conventional bioconvection was dominant. When flow rate was low, observed pattern in the cylindrical container was split into two flow regions, where the bioconvection and the bubble flow were dominant respectively. When flow rate was high, bubble flow became dominant and no clear bioconvection was observed. Such changes in the bioconvection pattern have not been reported before. These findings are important to understand the transport phenomena in algae suspensions in engineering settings.
