Table 6.

Summary of recommendations for model construction, components, and assessment including relative importance and additional information regarding recommendation. An X denotes the recommended frequency with which to consider a given topic. If a different letter is used (e.g., M), a specific equation(s) is recommended for use when modeling that component (e.g., Monod; see definitions at bottom of table). Percentages listed are the number of articles that included that particular component in the presented model (this percentage did not influence the subsequent recommendations).

	Topic	Percent Used	When to Consider			Details
			Frequently	Sometimes	Rarely
Model Construction	Threshold formulation	11%	X			Use if at least one factor is potentially limiting.
	Multiplicative formulation	44%			X	Only applicable when growth components are independent.
Model Component	Carbon	27%	M			Inorganic carbon if only considering photoautotrophic; Organic carbon if only considering heterotrophic; Organic and inorganic carbon if considering mixotrophic.
	Nitrogen	53%	D or A			Include if concentration fluctuates, if modeling nutrient recovery, or if potentially inhibitory; Consider impacts on growth and pH.
	Phosphorus	26%	D			Include if concentration fluctuates or if modeling nutrient recovery.
	Light	66%	M or E&P			Consider light penetration into reactor and scattering; If potentially inhibitory, include impacts of photoacclimation.
	Temperature	24%	X			Include to assess impact on algal growth kinetics; Consider model choice if potentially inhibitory.
	Carbon storage	16%		X		Include if nutrient-deplete conditions or other accumulation triggers (e.g., thermal stress or high light intensity) exist, or if subjected to fluctuating lighting conditions.
	Respiration	57%	X			Maintenance energy requirements are constant, but endogenous respiration rates are not.
	Other organisms	16%		X		Consider if not growing algae in pure culture.
	Mass transfer	17%		X		Consider if CO2 can be limiting, or if NH3 or O2 can be inhibitory.
	pH	16%		X		Consider if system is not well-buffered or can cause inhibition.

M ≡ Monod; D ≡ Droop; A ≡ Andrews; E&P ≡ Eilers and Peeters; X – no specific model recommended.