TITLE:
Periphyton Biomass Response to Phosphorus Additions in an Aquatic Ecosystem Dominated by Submersed Plants
AUTHORS:
Xueying Mei, Xiufeng Zhang
KEYWORDS:
Periphyton; Biomass; Phosphorus; Aquatic Ecosystem; Submersed Plants
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.4 No.1,
January
25,
2013
ABSTRACT: An experiment was conducted to
investigate the response of periphyton biomass to addition of phosphorus (P) in
an aquatic ecosystem dominated by submersed plants. Aquatic ecosystems
dominated by Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle and Vallisneria natans
(Lour.) Hara were constructed in mesocosm aquaria. Mesocosms were dosed weekly
with different P loads (0 μg/L/Week and 100 μg/L/Week) for 17 weeks. Total P
(TP), total soluble P (TSP), and soluble reactive P (SRP) concentrations in the
waters of mesocosms added with P were significantly higher as opposed to the unenriched
control mesocosms. The biomass of the attached periphyton and the cover of
floating periphyton remained abundant in P-unenriched control mesocosms
throughout the test period with a TP, TSP, and SRP concentration ranging of
0.021 - 0.049 mg/L,
0.004 - 0.024 mg/L, and
0.003 - 0.018 mg/L,
respectively. P addition caused the decline of attached periphyton biomass to a
low level and loss of floating periphyton. Results indicate that P enrichment
in an aquatic ecosystem dominated by submersed plants could reduce attached
periphyton biomass and eliminate floating periphyton. The research would be
useful to maintain periphyton by reducing excessive P in aquatic ecosystem dominated
by submersed plants.