Abstract
We studied whether values of a phycocyanin sensor (BGA (Blue-Green Algae)) (YSI Inc.) revealed the total biovolume of cyanobacteria and that of bloom-forming cyanobacteria, respectively, in 64 irrigation ponds, and concluded that the sensor explained 87% of both biovolumes. No cyanobacteria were observed under microscopy with the phycocyanin sensor value of < 102 cells mL-1, and cyanobacteria were observed in only 40% of ponds with sensor values between 123 and 2,653 cells mL-1. However, cyanobacteria were always observed with a sensor value of ≥2,758 cells mL-1. A significant linear regression with a sensor value of ≥2,758 cells mL-1 was obtained to estimate the biovolume of cyanobacteria. A similar result was obtained for bloom-forming cyanobacteria with a sensor value of ≥6,680 cells mL-1. In the conclusion, the phycocyanin sensor showed the total biovolume of cyanobacteria and that of bloom-forming cyanobacteria in the field when the phycocyanin sensor value was generally ≥104 cells mL-1.
