Periphyton Dynamics Research Articles

Community structure of periphyton on bamboo substrate in whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei Boone, 1931) pond with semi-biofloc system

Abstract. Arfiati D, Zakiyah U, Anitasari S, Inayah ZN, Pratiwi RK. 2023. Community structure of periphyton on bamboo substrate in whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei Boone, 1931) pond with semi-biofloc system. Biodiversitas 24: 5080-5087. Periphyton is one aquatic organism that attaches to the substrate and can be used as a bioindicator. This study analyzes the community structure and dynamics of periphyton on bamboo substrates in whiteleg shrimp ponds with a semi-biofloc system. The study was conducted from May to July 2022. The bamboo substrate was placed in the ponds, and the samples were taken every seven days to 8 weeks. Identification and calculation of periphyton using Lackey Drop Micro transect Counting Method. The periphyton was found on a bamboo substrate in whiteleg shrimp ponds with a semi-biofloc system consisting of phyto-periphyton and zoo-periphyton. The phyto-periphyton group contains 4 phylum, 21 species, including the Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta, and Ocrophyta. The zoo-periphyton group has 4 phylum, 10 species consisting of Arthropoda, Ciliophora, Nematoda, and Rotifera. The abundance of periphyton found changes every week. The relative abundance of phyto-periphyton includes phylum Bacillariophyta (17-69%), Chlorophyta (1-22%), Cyanophyta (30-65%), and Ocrophyta (0-25%), while zoo-periphyton includes phylum Arthropoda (0-3%), Ciliophora (69-99%), Nematodes (0-2%) and Rotifers (0-28%). The total abundance of phyto-periphyton on bamboo substrate ranged from 223,806-989,398 cells/L, while zoo-periphyton ranged from 396-1,924 individual/L. The diversity, uniformity, and dominance index of phyto-periphyton and zoo-periphyton are moderate. Water quality parameters during the study were relatively good for aquatic organism growth, except for very high total organic matter levels in several weeks.

Correction: Littoral periphyton dynamics in newly established post-mining lakes

Correction: Littoral periphyton dynamics in newly established post-mining lakes

Littoral periphyton dynamics in newly established post-mining lakes

Littoral periphyton dynamics in newly established post-mining lakes

Structure and Dynamics of Periphyton in a Neotropical Freshwater Lake, with Emphasis on Ciliates and Their Relationships with Bacterial Taxa.

Periphyton communities in freshwater systems play an essential role in biogeochemical processes, but knowledge of their structure and dynamics lags far behind other environments. We used eDNA metabarcoding of 16S and 18S rRNA markers to investigate the formation and establishment of a periphytic community, in addition to a morphology-based approach for peritrich ciliate determinations, its most abundant group. We sampled two nearby sites within a large Neotropical lake at four time points, aiming to assess whether periphyton establishment can be replicated on this local scale. Producers and denitrifiers were abundant in the community, illustrating the relevant role of biofilms in freshwater nutrient recycling. Among microeukaryotes, peritrich ciliates dominated the community, with genera Epistylis and Vorticella being the most abundant and showing a clear succession at both sites. Other ciliates were morphologically identified and, in some cases, their occurrence was strongly related to bacterial abundance. The structure of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic components of periphyton was not different, while the turnover dynamics differed between the two sites, in spite of their adjacent locations and similar abiotic properties. This indicates that the establishment of these communities can vary even on a local scale within a lake ecosystem.

Functional and Compositional Responses of Periphyton Mats to Simulated Saltwater Intrusion in the Southern Everglades

Periphyton plays key ecological roles in karstic, freshwater wetlands and is extremely sensitive to environmental change making it a powerful tool to detect saltwater intrusion into these vulnerable and valuable ecosystems. We conducted field mesocosm experiments in the Florida Everglades, USA to test the effects of saltwater intrusion on periphyton metabolism, nutrient content, and diatom species composition, and how these responses differ between mats from a freshwater versus a brackish marsh. Pulsed saltwater intrusion was simulated by dosing treatment chambers monthly with a brine solution for 15 months; control chambers were simultaneously dosed with site water. Periphyton from the freshwater marsh responded to a 1-ppt increase in surface water salinity with reduced productivity and decreased concentrations of total carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. These functional responses were accompanied by significant shifts in periphytic diatom assemblages. Periphyton mats at the brackish marsh were more functionally resilient to the saltwater treatment (~ 2 ppt above ambient), but nonetheless experienced significant shifts in diatom composition. These findings suggest that freshwater periphyton is negatively affected by small, short-term increases in salinity and that periphytic diatom assemblages, particularly at the brackish marsh, are a better metric of salinity increases compared with periphyton functional metrics due to functional redundancy. This research provides new and valuable information regarding periphyton dynamics in response to changing water sources in the southern Everglades that will allow us to extend the use of periphyton, and their diatom assemblages, as tools for environmental assessments related to saltwater intrusion.

Complex networks of functional connectivity in a wetland reconnected to its floodplain

AbstractDisturbances such as fire or flood, in addition to changing the local magnitude of ecological, hydrological, or biogeochemical processes, can also change their functional connectivity—how those processes interact in space. Complex networks offer promise for quantifying functional connectivity in watersheds. The approach resolves connections between nodes in space based on statistical similarities in perturbation signals (derived from solute time series) and is sensitive to a wider range of timescales than traditional mass‐balance modeling. We use this approach to test hypotheses about how fire and flood impact ecological and biogeochemical dynamics in a wetland (Everglades, FL, USA) that was reconnected to its floodplain. Reintroduction of flow pulses after decades of separation by levees fundamentally reconfigured functional connectivity networks. The most pronounced expansion was that of the calcium network, which reflects periphyton dynamics and may represent an indirect influence of elevated nutrients, despite the comparatively smaller observed expansion of phosphorus networks. With respect to several solutes, periphyton acted as a “biotic filter,” shifting perturbations in water‐quality signals to different timescales through slow but persistent transformations of the biotic community. The complex‐networks approach also revealed portions of the landscape that operate in fundamentally different regimes with respect to dissolved oxygen, separated by a threshold in flow velocity of 1.2 cm/s, and suggested that complete removal of canals may be needed to restore connectivity with respect to biogeochemical processes. Fire reconfigured functional connectivity networks in a manner that reflected localized burn severity, but had a larger effect on the magnitude of solute concentrations.

Polyphosphate plays a vital role in the phosphorus dynamics of stream periphyton

AbstractInterest in the role of polyphosphate (polyP) in marine biogeochemical cycles has been considerable, and the likelihood is high that polyP plays a critical role in the P dynamics of stream periphyton. We monitored the effects of P pulses during natural storm events in a single stream, manipulated P pulses in stream mesocosms, and sampled 23 streams at base flow across a landscape P gradient to ascertain patterns in periphyton polyP content and formation. We found that: 1) P pulses in natural storm runoff could stimulate polyP accumulation in periphyton, 2) periphyton communities were capable of using P delivered in a single pulse for future growth and biomass accumulation, and 3) polyP can accumulate relative to microbial biomass and total microbial P under P-poor conditions. PolyP formation under P-stressed conditions might represent a reallocation of resources away from growth to maximize uptake and storage of P in future pulses. Overall, polyP may serve as an important P-retention mechanism in ...

Response of planktonic cyanobacteria and periphyton assemblages to physicochemical properties of stormwater in a shallow urban lake

The aim of this study was to determine the response of planktonic cyanobacteria and periphyton assemblages (periphytic algae in the separator pipes, epilithon and epiphyton) to lamella separator-treated stormwaters in urban Lake Jeziorak Maly in 1997-2003 and 2005. Relationships between periphyton and phytoplankton assemblage and water chemistry variables were analyzed by calculating the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, and then with canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The basic factors favouring the cyanobacterial growth were water temperature and iron, while high chloride concentration limited their development. Cyanobacterial abundance recorded at the separators was half that of the pelagic zone because of a lower water temperature and higher Cl concentration, indicating high algal sensitivity to the considerable velocity and disturbances caused by stormwater effluents. Higher silicon and calcium concentrations at the separators and orthophosphates at sites with stones and gravel showed connection with the growth of diatoms, especially Fragilaria leptostauron var. martyi, Diatoma vulgaris and Navicula gregaria. The richness of the dominant cyanobacteria, Aphanizomenon gracile and Limnothrix redekei, was related with the water temperature, conductivity, pH, and TN. Similarities in the periphyton dynamics in separator pipes and epilithon between the years covered by the study suggest significant influence of separator-treated stormwater on these assemblages, in contrast to epiphyton and phytoplankton in the pelagial zone, where these waters had limited influence.

Spatial and temporal variation of algal assemblages in six Midwest agricultural streams having varying levels of atrazine and other physicochemical attributes

Potential effects of pesticides on stream algae occur alongside complex environmental influences; in situ studies examining these effects together are few, and have not typically controlled for collinearity of variables. We monitored the dynamics of periphyton, phytoplankton, and environmental factors including atrazine, and other water chemistry variables at 6 agricultural streams in the Midwest US from spring to summer of 2011 and 2012, and used variation partitioning of community models to determine the community inertia that is explained uniquely and/or jointly by atrazine and other environmental factors or groups of factors. Periphyton and phytoplankton assemblages were significantly structured by year, day of year, and site, and exhibited dynamic synchrony both between site–years and between periphyton and phytoplankton in the same site–year. The majority of inertia in the models (55.4% for periphyton, 68.4% for phytoplankton) was unexplained. The explained inertia in the models was predominantly shared (confounded) between variables and variable groups (13.3, 30.9%); the magnitude of inertia that was explained uniquely by variable groups (15.1, 18.3%) was of the order hydroclimate>chemistry>geography>atrazine for periphyton, and chemistry>hydroclimate>geography>atrazine for phytoplankton. The variables most influential to the assemblage structure included flow and velocity variables, and time since pulses above certain thresholds of nitrate+nitrite, total phosphorus, total suspended solids, and atrazine. Time since a ≥30μg/L atrazine pulse uniquely explained more inertia than time since pulses≥10μg/L or daily or historic atrazine concentrations; this result is consistent with studies concluding that the effects of atrazine on algae typically only occur at ≥30μg/L and are recovered from.

Sustainable aquaculture: agro‐ecological role of periphyton in ricefish farming

AbstractAquaculture has a highly promising role in producing fish biomass and fulfilling nutrient requirement for the growing population on the Earth. Worldwide, there exists several substrate‐based fish production practices of which Acadja, Athkotu, Samarah, Phum, Aji gnuii assonii, Xeng fishery are popular. These substrate‐based fisheries reported higher fish productivity than conventional supplemental feed‐based aquaculture. Herbivorous fish, in general, have natural tendency to graze on periphyton ensuring maximum accessibility to resources or acquire enhanced growth in a periphyton fed environment. In waterlogged rice fields with rice stem as substrate, common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fishery has been a great success among agro‐farmers of Apatani Plateau in north‐eastern India. The practice achieves 30% more economic return per annum rice only cultivation. The practice is a best example of sustainable utilization of natural resources for fish production and also a low‐cost aquaculture to support poor farmers with shallow, waterlogged resources. The ecology of the rice fields in Apatani Plateau disclosed high richness and diversity of plankton and periphyton in aquatic column. The physico‐chemical nature of rice fields directly or indirectly affects the growth and dynamics of periphyton during rice‐growing periods. On availability of such aquatic resources, the fish, Common carp, shifts planktivorous or detritivorous feeding habits to periphytophagous habit and attains considerable growth over the stocked period. The present review highlights the immense potentiality of fish culture to explore periphytic resources and need of extending ricefish research towards a sustainable form of aquaculture in rice fields.

Temporal variation of periphyton communities: a 3-year study from northwest Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

Periphyton composition, density, and diversity (Shannon-Wiener index), as well as thickness of periphyton communities developed on glass coupons, were studied from nearshore areas of northwest Lake Simcoe, Canada, during 2009, 2010, and 2011. The objective of this study was to quantify the temporal (yearly) changes in periphyton occurring in the littoral zone of Lake Simcoe and identify water quality variables that may be driving periphyton community dynamics. Clean glass slides were suspended at 0.5 m below the surface waters and retrieved on multiple days after suspension. The retrieved glass slides were immediately analyzed under a microscope to observe periphyton genera composition, density, diversity, and biofilm thickness. While the number of genera, diversity, and biofilm thickness showed significant variation among years of observation, the density did not. In all 3 years, Bacillariophyta were the dominant group, while Chlorophyta, cyanobacteria, and Chrysophyta were routinely represented in the periphyton community. A periphyton community dominated by Navicula and Gomphonema in 2009 changed to Achnanthidium and Cocconeis in 2010, which subsequently changed to Achnanthidium and Navicula (all belonging to Bacillariophyta) in 2011. The density of periphyton was significantly related to biofilm thickness across all 3 years. Principal component analysis on periphyton genera composition and abundance showed variation among years. Regression analysis suggested the shift in the number of genera was related to the variation in total phosphorus and dissolved oxygen concentrations in the water. Long-term data on periphyton community dynamics will prove useful to devise a periphyton-based water quality index for northwest Lake Simcoe.

On modeling chronic detachment of periphyton in artificial rough, open channel flow

Periphyton communities, which are native to river beds, serve as a functional indicator of river health but remain one of the least-studied communities despite the significant increase in the examination of aquatic microbial communities in recent years. In this study, we tested the relevance of three formulations of the chronic detachment term in a simple model for the biomass dynamics of periphyton. Numerical simulations of the periphyton biomass dynamics were performed by using three different descriptors for the flow conditions: the discharge Q, the friction velocity u∗, and the roughness Reynolds number k+ = u∗ks/ν (where ν is water kinetic viscosity and ks is the Nikuradse equivalent sand roughness). Comparisons of numerical simulation results with experimental data from literature revealed chronic detachment to be better simulated by taking the roughness Reynolds number as the external variable of detachment. These results support the idea that transport phenomena that occur in the near-bed layer, e.g. chronic detachment of periphyton matter or vertical transport of nutrients and pollutants in submerged aquatic canopies, are not related to a single turbulence descriptor such as the friction velocity u∗. Its description requires at least two descriptors, here the friction velocity u∗ and the Nikuradse equivalent sand roughness ks, which depend on the initial form and dimensions of the colonized substratum, and its changes owing to the thickness, resistance, and composition of the epilithic matter.

Structural and successional variability of periphytic algal community in a Amazonian lake during the dry and rainy season (Rio Branco, Acre)

The colonization process and successional patterns of a periphytic algal community were evaluated in a Amazonian Viveiro Lake (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil). Sampling was performed over a period of 35 days; at four-day intervals for 20 days, and then at five-day intervals. Water sampling for physical, chemical and biological analyses was done during the dry and rainy season. Glass slides were used as artificial substrates for periphyton colonization. The structural community was evaluated through population density, algae class, diversity indices and descriptive species. Species richness, diversity and evenness increased as succession progressed. While density of Bacillariophyceae, Euglenophyceae and Zygnemaphyceae increased with succession, Cyanobacteria remained dominant. Synechocystis aquatilis, Synechocystis diplococcus and Navicula pseudolanceolata were the main descriptive species in both the dry and rainy season. Cymbela tumida, Frustulia rhomboides, Trachelomonas lacustris and Closterium acicularis was correlated with an increase in hydrologic level during the rainy season. Conversely, the density of Chlamydomonas sp., Chroomonas nordstedtii, Trachelomonas volvocinopsis, Trachelomonas volvocina and Synechococcus linearis was correlated with an increase in water transparency during the dry season. In general, the periphytic algal community showed high diversity and species richness independent of season. Season also had little influence on representation of algae class and main descriptive species. However, successional patterns varied by season, and changes in hydrologic levels acted directly on the succession path of periphytic algae. More research on periphyton dynamics is needed to improve our understanding of tropical lake ecosystems, especially in Amazonian.

Periphyton Dynamics along a Stream with a Gradient of Human Impact

ABSTRACT The impact of anthropogenic development on periphytic communities was studied within Finkle Brook of Bolton Landing, New York. Finkle Brook is located in the Lake George watershed and has increasing anthropogenic development from the headwaters to the mouth. Periphyton was collected and quantified (as algae, bacteria, and fungi) from both natural and artificial substrates during the summer of 2007. On natural substrates, the headwater site supported the highest organic material but the least algal growth. On artificial substrates, the more developed downstream sites usually supported significantly more periphytic growth than the headwater site. Algal and fungal growth peaked early in the sampling period (June), whereas bacterial density and total organic material had the most accumulation at the end of the growing season (September). These results support the hypothesis that periphyton increases in biomass and changes in community structure as a response to factors associated with anthropogenic development.

Modelling periphyton in irrigation canals

Periphyton developments in water distribution canals induce major disturbances for system management, such as clogging problems when fixed algae are detached. Periphyton models can be used to simulate and improve canal management. The purpose of this paper is to review the periphyton models which integrate a hydrodynamic effect, and to discuss their relevance for application in open-channels. Afterwards, a new model of periphyton detachment that integrates the hydrodynamic factor is proposed. An experiment in semi-real conditions is performed to compare periphyton development under four different hydrodynamic regimes. The proposed model is compared on experimental results with two existing models. The new model reproduces well the periphyton dynamics in the four canals simultaneously.

Primary consumers and resources: Annual variation in two contrasting reaches of a Patagonian mountain stream

Resource availability influences the flow of energy through food webs, thus affecting biomass and trophic structure of consumer communities. To assess the effect of availability of allochthonous (leaf litter) and autochthonous (periphyton) resources on the trophic structure of macroinvertebrates, we sampled monthly for a year two sites (upstream forested, downstream open canopy) of Challhuaco, a low order mountain stream in the Patagonian Andes. Leaf litter and periphyton dynamics showed the expected pattern, peaking in autumn and spring, respectively. Temporal variations of shredders and scrapers were synchronized, with the logic delay, with resource abundance. Although leaf litter mass was similar at both stream reaches, shredders were more abundant at the forest site. Periphyton biomass was higher at the forest, while scrapers were more abundant at the open site. The patterns of resource and consumer abundance, and community functional structure were mostly explained by the interaction of abiotic factors and trophic relationships.

Seasonal and inter‐stream variations in the population dynamics, growth and secondary production of an algivorous fish (Pseudogastromyzon myersi: Balitoridae) in monsoonal Hong Kong

Summary1. Balitorid loaches are widespread and highly diverse in Asian streams, yet their life history and ecology have received little attention. We investigated seasonal (wet versus dry season) and spatial variation in populations of algivorous Pseudogastromyzon myersi in Hong Kong, and estimated the magnitude of secondary production by this fish in pools in four streams (two shaded and two unshaded) over a 15‐month period.2. Mean population densities of P. myersi ranged from 6.0 to 23.2 individuals m−2, constituting more than half (and typically >70%) of benthic fishes censused. Abundance was c. 25% greater in the wet season, when recruitment occurred. Significant density differences among streams were not related to shading conditions and were evident despite small‐scale variations in P. myersi abundance among pools. Mean biomass varied among streams from 0.85 to 3.87 g ash‐free dry weight (AFDW) m−2. Spatial and seasonal patterns in biomass and density were similar, apart from some minor disparities attributable to differences in mean body size among populations.3. All four P. myersi populations bred once a year in June and July, and life spans varied from 24 to 26 months. Populations consisted of three cohorts immediately after recruitment but, for most of the study period, only two cohorts were evident. Cohort‐specific growth rates did not differ significantly among streams but, in all streams, younger cohorts had higher cohort‐specific growth rates.4. Secondary production of P. myersi estimated by the size‐frequency (SF) method was 2.7–11.5 g AFDW m−2 year−1 and almost twice that calculated by the increment‐summation (IS) method (1.2–6.6 g AFDW m−2 year−1). Annual P/B ratios were 1.17–2.16 year−1 (IS) and 2.73–3.22 year−1 (SF). Highest production was recorded in an unshaded stream and the lowest in a shaded stream, but site rankings by production did not otherwise match shading conditions. Wet‐season production was six times greater than dry‐season production, and daily production fell to almost zero during January and February. Cool temperatures (<17 °C) may have limited fish activity and influenced detectability during some dry‐season censuses. Estimates of abundance and annual production by P. myersi are therefore conservative.5. Comparisons with the literature indicate that the abundance and production of P. myersi in Hong Kong was high relative to other benthic fishes in tropical Asia, or their temperate counterparts in small streams. Manipulative experiments are needed to determine the influence of P. myersi, and algivorous balitorids in general, on periphyton dynamics and energy flow in Asian streams.

An attempt at modelling the periphyton dynamics with artificial neural networks exemplified by the oxbow lake reopening study (The Słupia River, Northern Poland)

An experiment was performed in the Osokowy Staw oxbow lake (the Slupia River, northern Poland). The old riverbed was reconnected with the riverine system and periphyton communities on nylon artificial substrate were surveyed before and after engineering works. Then, ANN (Artificial Neural Network) architectures were designed and trained in order to create models of interactions between 18 macrozooperiphyton, microzooperiphyton and phytoperiphyton taxa in the changing ecosystem. Calculations were performed using StatSoft Software Statistica 6.1 with the implemented neural network module. Neural network models allowed a quantitative insight into periphyton dynamics and indicated trophic relationships, both predatoryprey and competitive. Thus, we see ANN as a good technique for modelling multidimensional, nonlinear relations between epiphytic organisms and as a promising method for creating overall models.

An attempt at modelling the periphyton dynamics with artificial neural networks exemplified by the oxbow lake reopening study (The Słupia River, Northern Poland)

An experiment was performed in the Osokowy Staw oxbow lake (the Słupia River, northern Poland). The old riverbed was reconnected with the riverine system and periphyton communities on nylon artificial substrate were surveyed before and after engineering works. Then, ANN (Artificial Neural Network) architectures were designed and trained in order to create models of interactions between 18 macrozooperiphyton, microzooperiphyton and phytoperiphyton taxa in the changing ecosystem. Calculations were performed using StatSoft Software Statistica 6.1 with the implemented neural network module.Neural network models allowed a quantitative insight into periphyton dynamics and indicated trophic relationships, both predatoryprey and competitive. Thus, we see ANN as a good technique for modelling multidimensional, nonlinear relations between epiphytic organisms and as a promising method for creating overall models.

The relationship between stream periphyton dynamics and near-bed turbulence in rough open-channel flow

The main goal of the present work is to characterize, at the laboratory scale, the physical relationships between periphyton biomass and water velocity. Experiments, conducted in a rough open-channel, and numerical simulations, have been performed for a large range of values of the main hydrodynamic parameters. The major role of the shear stress exerted by the flow on the bed, in the periphyton dynamics, is clearly proved. We have developed a model of periphyton biomass dynamics taking the friction velocity, as external physical variable. We fitted the model to our laboratory data and, despite their poorness, the model has shown a good fit, clearly showing that local physical processes are the main factors controlling the dynamics in running waters.