Hello,



I appologize for contacting you over e-mail directly. I have a question.



I am a student of a biology-orientated secondary school in Slovenia and

have an interest in microbiology. 



I have preformed a small experiment on the devolopment (and

decomposition) of algae in a small undisturbed 'ecosystem' and have

determined that when the grownth of phototrophic algae finnishes, they

sink back to the bottom (as every night), where if not decomposed

immediately, will devolop a slimy covering that will fix the decomposing

algae to the bottom and will eventualy create anaerobic (oxygen-less)

conditions that will allow them to decompose further (even without the

bacteria that normaly decompose them; ending up with pockets of biogas,

trapped on the bottom).



I have noticed the relevance of this fenomena to the ocasional

'blooming' (sp?) of ocean algae, the creating of the unwelcome slime on

the surface of the water. I have also noticed an article of your work in

a local newspaper, so I concluded you could answer my questions: 



Are these two fenomena relevant? 



Could it be true, that the releasing of phosphates into the ocean causes

the fototrophic algae to not sink deeper into the ocean overnight, thus

end up decomposing on the surface, creating surface-slime?



Thank you for your time in advance!





	Jure Sah



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