Abstract
The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of periphyton biofilm on nutrient releases from sediments in ponds and lakes. The physico-chemical parameters in the overlying water, the TP content, and the P forms in the sediments and periphyton biofilm were measured. The results showed that (1) periphyton biofilm could change the physico-chemical indexes in the overlying water; furthermore, the periphyton biofilm influenced the release of N and P from sediments, and its extent of influence was closely related to the nutrient levels of the sediments. (2) The periphyton biofilms effectively reduced the concentrations of N and P in sediments with different nutritional levels (P < 0.05). The average daily TN removal rates were 52% and 25% in the pond and lake microcosms, respectively, and the average daily TP removal rates were 1.06% and 20.9% in the pond and lake microcosms, respectively. This result suggested that periphyton biofilms acted as biological buffers for nutrient cycling between sediments and overlying water; these buffering effects were mainly through the absorption, filtration, and precipitation of nutrients. (3) The TP content and P forms of the periphyton biofilm were different between the pond and lake microcosms, which indicated that the P forms of the periphyton biofilm were potentially influenced by the nutritional levels of the sediments.
Published Version
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