Presentation Type
Poster
Department
Biology
Location
Walker Conference Center B
Description
As space exploration becomes more advanced, scientists look to find new ways to create nourishment and oxygen to maintain long-term space travel. Arthrospira platensis, commonly known as Spirulina, could be a possible solution to these problems. This cyanobacterium converts carbon dioxide into pure oxygen and the cell structure (coiled or straight) appears to trigger different oxygen and cultivation responses. Mixed (coiled and straight, Fig. 4) and coiled (Fig. 5) Spirulina cultures were transferred into 2.5 L containers and placed in white light boxes with varying intensities of light: 15 µmol/㎡/s, 7 µmol/㎡/s, and 3 µmol/㎡/s. Each experiment lasted 72 hours and Spirulina’s oxygen production and cell concentration in the cultures were measured at the 24h, 48h, and 72h marks.
The higher-intensity light produced a significant amount of oxygen and oxygen per cell as compared to low-intensity light. As the experiment progressed, the higher amount of time produced a reduction in the cell counts. Although the coiled Spirulina produced more gas and had a higher cell count on average, the mixed culture in the medium and low light levels were found to have a higher oxygen per cell average.
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Included in
The Effects of Light Intensity on Cell Population and Oxygen Production of Arthrospira platensis
Walker Conference Center B
As space exploration becomes more advanced, scientists look to find new ways to create nourishment and oxygen to maintain long-term space travel. Arthrospira platensis, commonly known as Spirulina, could be a possible solution to these problems. This cyanobacterium converts carbon dioxide into pure oxygen and the cell structure (coiled or straight) appears to trigger different oxygen and cultivation responses. Mixed (coiled and straight, Fig. 4) and coiled (Fig. 5) Spirulina cultures were transferred into 2.5 L containers and placed in white light boxes with varying intensities of light: 15 µmol/㎡/s, 7 µmol/㎡/s, and 3 µmol/㎡/s. Each experiment lasted 72 hours and Spirulina’s oxygen production and cell concentration in the cultures were measured at the 24h, 48h, and 72h marks.
The higher-intensity light produced a significant amount of oxygen and oxygen per cell as compared to low-intensity light. As the experiment progressed, the higher amount of time produced a reduction in the cell counts. Although the coiled Spirulina produced more gas and had a higher cell count on average, the mixed culture in the medium and low light levels were found to have a higher oxygen per cell average.