Ammonia (NH3) is present in aquatic systems mainly as the dissociated ion NH4+, which is rapidly taken up by phytoplankton and other aquatic plants for growth. "Despite its rapid uptake by algae ammonia persists in small quantities because it is also the major excretory product of aquatic animals," (Horne and Goldman, 1994 ) As it comes in contact with water, ammonia dissociates into NH4+ ions and -OH ions (ammonium hydroxide). At normal pH levels such as 7, this poses no problem. However, if pH levels increase, the ammonium hydroxide becomes toxic to both plants and animals.
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Depth (in meters) |
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June 6, 1998 |
0.20 |
0.37 |
0.29 (at 2 meters) |
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June 13, 1998 |
0.54 |
0.60 |
1.91 (at 2 meters) |
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June 20, 1998 |
0.72 |
0.74 |
0.98 |
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June 26, 1998 |
0.76 |
0.72 |
0.77 |
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July 2, 1998 |
0.81 |
0.86 |
0.90 |
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July 10, 1998 |
0.46 |
0.50 |
0.58 |
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July 21, 1998 |
0.35 |
0.36 |
0.61 |
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July 28, 1998 |
0.43 |
0.42 |
0.54 |
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August 8, 1998 |
0.67 |
0.73 |
N / A |
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August 25, 1998 |
0.15 |
0.17 |
0.17 |
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