When algal blooms are prevalent in bodies of water, specifically bays, they can cause the nitrogen levels in the water to increase. When the nitrogen levels in the water are increased, this can lead to a number of detrimental health effects when consumed. In order to determine whether or not the salinity of the water in Barnegat Bay had an effect on the rate of the nitrogen levels increasing during an algal bloom, ten sample of water were collected and tested by adding the microalgae Nannochloropsis and recording the nitrate and nitrite levels every week. The sample of water varied in salinity, and two samples did not contain the algae to act as a control. The samples were exposed to a temperature of 22°C and were tested over the course of
