Influence of pH shift and salting on the energetics of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and Dunaliella maritima

The influence of pH shift and NaCl salting on the heat production, oxygen adsorption, and oxygen evolution rates of the unicellular green halotolerant microalga Dunaliella maritima and the freshwater microalga Chlorella vulgaris were investigated. In the growth process of both microalgae the alkalization of their culture medium was observed. And simultaneously it was shown that at increasing NaCl salting of cultural medium its acidification occurs. At alkalization and acidification of Chlorella medium the increase of heat production and respiration rates were observed. At alkalization and acidification of Dunaliella culture the adverse effect of decreasing heat production rate was observed. Acidification of culture medium of both algae led to short-term and sharp increase of photosynthesis measured by polarography and photomicrocalorimeter.