Effect of grazing and nutrient supply on periphyton biomass and nutrient stoichiometry in habitats of different productivity

Abstract

The impact of grazing and nutrient supply on epilithic periphyton was investigated in factorial field experiments in four seasons at three Swedish sites of different productivity and herbivore composition (Lake Limmaren, Lake Erken, and Väddö, a low salinity coastal site). Nutrient supply was enhanced by a granulose fertilizer containing nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and grazer density was manipulated by exclusion cages. Algal biomass was increased by nutrient enrichment and reduced by grazer presence, but effects were highly variable between sites and seasons. Generally, grazers had stronger effects on algal biomass than nutrient enrichment, but there was no overriding effect of either grazing or nutrients. This indicated a simultaneous top‐down and bottom‐up control of algal biomass. Taxonomic composition of the periphyton was more affected by grazer presence than by nutrients. Internal nutrient ratios of the algae indicated N limitation at two of the sites. At all sites, the content of N and P in the periphytic assemblage was enhanced by the experimental nutrient enrichment, resulting in decreased C:N and C: P ratios. The presence of herbivores also increased periphytic nutrient content (decreased N: P and C: P ratios) in some experiments, suggesting an increase in algal P due to excretion. The effect strength of grazers and nutrients on periphyton was affected by different abiotic characteristics such as light availability, nutrient concentrations, and temperature. However, single environmental characteristics were not sufficient to explain the relative importance of grazing and nutrients.