EFEK LAJU KARBONDIOKSIDA (CO₂) TERHADAP MORFOLOGI DAN LAJU PERTUMBUHAN POPULASI Spirulina platensis (Gomont)

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution occurs due to the increasing of fossil fuels usage for industry and transportation. Due to the deforestation, the absorption of CO2 by plants is reduced, resulting the increasing of CO2 absorption by the sea. The absorption of CO2 by the sea will lead the changes in its chemical properties and affects the marine ecosystems. Spirulina platensis is a cosmopolitan organism in the sea that can use inorganic carbon absorbed by the sea. This research aimed to investigate the effect of CO2 rate on the morphology and the growth rate population of Spirulina platensis. The research method was a complete randomized design with three treatments in triplicate. The treatment period started in the exponential phase with the rate of CO2 at 0.1 lpm, 0.2 lpm, and 0.4 lpm. The results showed that the given CO2 could be used by S. platensis to stimulate the growth but it would shorten the growth kinetics.This is also reflected in the results of the statistical analysis that there is no significant difference (p>0,05). Morphologically, the S. platensis response to the administration of CO2 indicates the occurrence of cell fragmentation and lysis.