With reference to IMTA, what is the difference between 'bioremediation capactiy' and 'bioremediation efficiency'? What are some of the ways to quantify each?
Nielson et al. 2012, working with macroalgae, offers potential definitions:
Bioremediation capacity: Internal storage capacity of algae growing on different N sources.
- To me this is simply the proportion of the biomass that is the nutrient of concern, in this case N.
Bioremediation efficiency: Percent amount of nutrients extracted by the algae comparing the inflow and outflow of water.
- To me this is equivalent to mass balance work.
Nielsen, M.M., Bruhn, A., Rasmussen, M.B., Olesen, B., Larsen, M.M. and Møller, H.B., 2012. Cultivation of Ulva lactuca with manure for simultaneous bioremediation and biomass production. Journal of applied phycology, 24(3), pp.449-458.
I would say that:
Bioremediation capacity = the amount of N that a certain biomass of algae can absorb
Bioremediation efficiency = the percentage removal of N from a body of water, by a certain algal biomass
Thanks, Mark. I am in favour of your variation on the definitition for 'efficiency', thanks. Awesome to see that you have done work on Veta La Palma!
I became interested in IMTA when I was working on the YSLME project between China and S. Korea, where I worked Jianguang Fang from the YSFRI on the huge IMTA that was being practiced over an area of >140km2 in Sungo (Sunggou) Bay, Roncheng, Shandong Province.
If you dont know it then check out his talk https://www.was.org/documents/MeetingPresentations/WA2014/WA2014_0592.pdf
Hi Mark,
Of course I am aware of Sunggou Bay (and the huge scale), and I have always assumed there would be researchers looking at IMTA there. It is great to have Jianguang Fang's presentation as guidance for papers to look for.
I'm new on the IMTA scene but I'm sure we'll cross paths soon.
Keep well and thanks again!
The definitions of Nielson et al. and those of Mark are good (and not that different). You may circumscribe a little more by adding the ideas of time (in how long?) and scale (site? bay? region?).
I should add that time and area scales do not have to be part of the definition. Different projects will have different time and area scales and there is nothing wrong with that. Just that it helps the readers.
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