Ammonia is released in which form by aquatic animals
Answers
Ammonia is a nitrogen waste released by aquatic animals into the production pond environment. It is a primary byproduct of protein metabolism. Ammonia is excreted directly from the fish gill into the water. Ammonia concentrations are usually at their highest late in the production season when biomass of the cultured species and the amount of protein fed are greatest. Ammonia is toxic to aquatic life and toxicity is affected by pond pH. Ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) has a more toxic form at high pH and a less toxic form at low pH, un-ionized ammonia (NH3) and ionized ammonia (NH4+), respectively. In addition, ammonia toxicity increases as temperature rises.
The measure of whether water is acidic, basic (alkaline) or neutral is known as pH. A scale of 1 to 14 is traditionally used, which represents the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. A pH of 7.0 is neutral; above 7.0 is basic and below 7.0 is acidic; close to 7.0 is weak and far from 7.0 is strong. It is a common perception that the pH of water is neutral and constant at a value of 7.0. In an environment free of carbon dioxide, aquatic life, and compounds other than H2O; pond pH would remain 7.0 or neutral. However, this combination of conditions is unlikely to occur on our planet. The pH of water is naturally acidic because the atmosphere contains carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon dioxide readily dissolves into water, raindrops and other sources of water exposed to air, forming a weak acid (H2CO3, carbonic acid). Therefore, events in the aquatic environment that affect CO2 concentrations also affect pH. There are minerals in soil that can dissolve in water to create acidity and alkalinity as well.
Photosynthesis and Respiration
Pond CO2 concentrations and pH, are affected by respiration and photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is released during respiration and consumed for photosynthesis. As a result, pond pH varies throughout the day (Fig. 1).
The plant members of the pond plankton community, phytoplankton, absorb CO2 for photosynthetic production of sugar. As daylight progressively intensifies, the rate of photosynthesis increases and so does the uptake of CO2. The removal of CO2 reduces the concentration of carbonic acid, and pond pH rises. Late in the production season, high waste nutrient concentrations can promote dense phytoplankton blooms which, in turn, can
remove all of the CO2 from pond water during photosynthesis. This can cause the water to become alkaline with pH levels greater than 9.0. Pond pH is highest late in the afternoon -- a few hours before sunset.
After sunset, photosynthesis and CO2 uptake stop. However, respiration continues day and night. During respiration, plants and animals consume oxygen to free the energy stored in food. The end product of respiration is CO2, which is released directly into the water. As photosynthesis is halted by the absence of light, CO2 begins to accumulate and the carbonic acid concentration increases. The rising concentration of carbonic acid causes the pH to fall. Toward the end of the production season, the biomass and respiration of cultured animals and phytoplankton is high. Nighttime concentrations of CO2, and therefore carbonic acid, can become excessive, lowering pH below 7.0. As such, pond pH would be lowest an hour or two before sunrise.
Effects of pH on Ammonia Toxicity
The daily interplay of photosynthesis and respiration creates a cyclical change in pond pH. Pond water becomes most acidic just before the period of darkness ends and most alkaline after several hours of daylight. The presence of un-ionized ammonia, the toxic form, increases as pH rises and decreases as pH falls which causes ammonia to become more ionized. The concentration of un-ionized ammonia in production ponds is lowest just before dawn and highest late in the afternoon.
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