The ability to effectively characterize the response of microalgal communities to changes in water quality is limited. Earlier, a microalgal bioassay was developed based on community level physiological profiling (CLPP). The efficacy of this assay was evaluated using three wetland water samples, a surface water sample, and two wastewater samples (i.e. primary and secondary), all collected from southwestern Ontario, Canada. In addition, the assay was applied to untreated and activated carbon treated oil sand process water (OSPW). YT (Yeast Identification Test Panel) and Biolog plates were successfully utilized for defined microalgal community under both heterotrophic and mixotrophic growth conditions to characterize the changes in the defined microalgal community due to the changes in water type. It was found that, although the degrees of changes in the algal community varied, all tested water samples were distinguished under both growth regimes using principal component analysis (PCA). The variations in the algal community were caused by the differences of the water samples. The response of the assay due to changes in the algal community caused by different waters was found to be very sensitive and could be used to differentiate different water bodies. It further can be used to monitor temporal changes of water quality of the same water body.

有效表征微藻类群落对水质变化的响应的能力有限。早先，基于社区水平的生理概况（CLPP）开发了微藻生物测定法。使用三个湿地水样品，一个地表水样品和两个废水样品（即一次和二次），均从加拿大西南安大略省收集，评估了该测定的有效性。此外，该测定法还适用于未经处理和经活性炭处理的油砂工艺用水（OSPW）。YT（酵母鉴定测试小组）和Biolog板已成功用于异养和混养生长条件下的确定的微藻群落，以表征由于水类型的变化而导致的确定的微藻群落的变化。发现，尽管藻类群落的变化程度各不相同，但在两种生长方式下都使用主成分分析（PCA）区分了所有测试水样。藻类群落的变化是由水样的差异引起的。由于不同水域引起的藻类群落变化而引起的测定响应非常敏感，可用于区分不同水体。它还可以用于监视同一水体的水质随时间变化。由于不同水域引起的藻类群落变化而引起的测定响应非常敏感，可用于区分不同水体。它还可以用于监视同一水体的水质随时间变化。由于不同水域引起的藻类群落变化而引起的测定响应非常敏感，可用于区分不同水体。它还可以用于监视同一水体的水质随时间变化。