Publications Details
Algal Predator and Pathogen Signature Verification
The purpose of this PTS was to conduct work with ASU, specifically to further develop Spectroradiometricbased technology that has potential to function as early warning of the active presence of predators and pathogens in outdoor algal ponds. Chlorella sorokiniana and the pathogen, Vampirovibrio chlorellavorus were selected for investigation because they had previously been implicated in several pond crashes at ASU's Arizona Center for Algal Technology and Innovation (AzCATI). Sandia conducted small-scale laboratory experiments comparing control and infected cultures of C. sorokiniana. Spectrally-resolved reflectivity data, as well as optical density, and pulse amplitude modulated fluorescence (PAM) were collected and analyzed to identify the spectral response of active V. chlorellavorus infection. The results of this limited, yet robust, experiment confirmed the initial hypothesis that signature V. chlorellavorus infection of C. sorokiniana could be identified based on the presence of a chlorophyll metabolites generated when the algal chlorophyll is degraded by the pathogen.