Quantification of algal biofilms colonising building materials: chlorophyll a measured by PAM-fluorometry as a biomass parameter

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify algal colonisation on anthropogenic surfaces (viz. building facades and roof tiles) using chlorophyll a (chl a) as a specific biomarker. Chl a was estimated as the initial fluorescence F₀ of ‘dark adapted’ algae using a pulse-modulated fluorometer (PAM-2000). Four isolates of aeroterrestrial green algae and one aquatic isolate were included in this study. The chl a concentration and F₀ showed an exponential relationship in the tested range between 0 and 400 mg chl a m^?2. The relationship was linear at chl a concentrations <20 mg m^?2. Exponential and linear models are presented for the single isolates with large coefficients of determination (exponential: r² > 0.94, linear: r² > 0.92). The specific power of this fluorometric method is the detection of initial algal colonisation on surfaces in thin or young biofilms down to 3.5 mg chl a m^?2, which corresponds to an abundances of the investigated isolates between 0.2 and 1.5 million cells cm^?2.