Rhee 9605163 This award supports a three-year collaborative research project between Dr. G-Yull Rhee of the New York State Department of Health and Dr. Jin-Hwan Lee of Sangmyung University in Seoul, Korea on "Production of Dissolved Organic Carbon and Taste-and-Odor Compounds Through Extracellular Excretion and Cell Death in Cyanobacteria." The goals of the project are: 1) to determine the effect of light intensity on the production of dissolved organic carbon and major odor producing compounds, and the relative importance of excretion and cell death in their production, 2) to elucidate the seasonal dynamics of the compounds in a reservoir, and 3) to identify problem species which produce off-flavor compounds. The production and consumption of dissolved organic carbon in the aquatic ecosystem has important implications for primary productivity, heterotrophic microbial production and nutrient cycling. From a public health standpoint, high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon and taste and odor producing compounds can impair potability and recreational use of water. This study will help elucidate the release of these compounds from cyanobacteria, a prevalent group of phytoplankton often associated with eutrophication. The expertise and facilities of the U.S. and Korean research groups will be combined in an effort to significantly advance the work. ***
