The effect of algal blooms on the disappearance of phenol in a small forest pond

Using experimental microecosystems the kinetics of phenol disappearance in small forest pond waters (Siberia, Russia) in the summer of 1995-96 were investigated. Despite of high variability of components of the ecosystem (plankton biomass and species composition) and two pronounced “blooms” of green algae Volvox aureus the same kinetics of the disappearance took place over the investigated period. Half-lives of the pollutant depended on water temperature only. A comparison of the self-purification of the pond with that of the Krasnoyarsk reservoir, “blooming” with blue–greens was carried out. Half-lives in the pond were significantly lower than that in the reservoir. During the periods of “blooms” of the green algae in the pond the concentrations of inorganic nutrients were comparatively high and the phenol-degrading bacteria likely were not limited by these nutrients, in contrast to the periods of “bloom” of the blue–green algae in the reservoir.