Kahlert, Maria
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
1. We examined the contribution of algal cells to periphytic organic carbon and assessed the effects of variable biomass composition on the carbon : phosphorus (C : P) ratio of periphyton. We compiled more than 5000 published and unpublished observations of periphytic carbon : chlorophyll a (C : Chl) ratios, an index of algal prevalence, from a variety of substrata collected from lake and low-salinity coastal habitats. In addition, we converted estimates of algal biovolume into algal C to obtain an independent measure of cellular algal carbon in periphyton. This information was used in a model relating periphyton C : P ratio to algal cellular carbon, the algal C : P ratio, and the C : P ratio of non-algal organic matter in periphyton. 2. The mean C : Chl ratio of periphyton (405) was relatively high with values in >25% of the samples exceeding 500. On average, 8.4% of total periphyton C was accounted for by C in algal cells. Only 15% of samples were found to have more than 15% periphyton C in cellular algal carbon. Our model showed a nonlinear relationship between periphytic C: P ratios and the C: P ratio of algal cells in the periphyton when non-algal organic matter was present. However, even at relatively low cellular algal C (
Keywords
algae • biofilm • ecological stoichiometry • periphyton • phosphorus
Published in
Freshwater Biology
2005, volume: 50, number: 11, pages: 1800-1807
Publisher: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Environmental Sciences and Nature Conservation
Fish and Aquacultural Science
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2005.01449.x
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/23225