| Title |
Methodology for Estimating Organic Carbon Content from Cell Volume in Freshwater Diatoms |
| Authors |
권대률 ( Kwon Daeryul ) , 박채홍 ( Park Chae Hong ) , 조현진 ( Cho Hyun Jin ) , 박미례 ( Park Mirye ) , 이상득 ( Lee Sang Deuk ) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.15681/KSWE.2024.40.6.305 |
| Keywords |
Biomass; Biovolume; Freshwater diatoms; Organic carbon content |
| Abstract |
The importance of evaluating phytoplankton composition, abundance, and biomass has been emphasized through the European Union’s Water Framework Directive (WFD). Accurate biomass estimation is a critical step in assessing the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems. While some European assessment systems propose that chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) can be used as a proxy for biomass, others recommend direct analysis of total biomass based on cell biovolume. Despite ongoing global research on the conversion of cell volume to carbon, Korea continues to use an outdated carbon conversion formula for algae published in 1985 without clear guidelines for modern applications. This study aimed to enhance the accuracy of estimating cell volume and carbon content of diatoms found in sediment cores from the Upo Wetland by modifying and rearranging geometric shapes for improved calculations. Referring to several European guidelines, we applied geometric shapes and formulas to classify 80 diatom species from Upo Wetland and calculated their biomasses accordingly. We then applied a carbon conversion formula to estimate organic carbon contents of these diatoms. Total carbon (C) content for the 80 diatom species from the Upo Wetland sediment was estimated to be 14,099 pg per cell. These findings are expected to provide valuable data for future assessments of microalgal carbon storage and sequestration rates. Additionally, this research contributes to the establishment of more accurate carbon conversion methodologies in Korea. It could be instrumental for studies focusing on microalgae-based carbon sequestration as part of climate change mitigation strategies. |