Algal Bloom in Northwest Urmia Lake (Bari Station)

Urmia Lake is one of the hypersaline Lake on world which has been faced with drought crisis recently. Increasing salinity up to saturation، the sharp reduction in the density of unicellular and multi-cellular algae as well as Artemia are effects of the crisis. Despite this critical situation on the lake، in summer of 2012 a very strong algal bloom was seen at northwest Urmia Lake (Bari station). Analysis of the chemical compositions of the water and study of the algae species were provided on the obtained samples from that area. Molecular analyses were provided by study of 18srDNA gene and sequencing of ITS region. The results of this study revealed the dominant species of the algae as Dunaliella tertiolecta which was found in concentration of 1. 2×106 cells/ml in salinity above of optimum. Also high levels of certain minerals such as phosphate، ammonia، nitrate، as well as salinity stress in the area was proposed as possible causes of algal bloom.