Effects of different substrates on the growth and composition of periphyton in the low saline groundwater system

Abstract

The growth and composition of periphyton in low saline groundwater (5 ppt) were evaluated using 5 different substrates: split bamboo poles (SBP), green shade net (GSN), high density polyethylene (HDPE) sheets, low density polyethylene (LDPE) sheets, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes). The effect of substrate type, submersion time, and depth was evaluated. The average submersion depth of all the substrates was maintained at 88.27 cm, and this trial was conducted for 60 days. Chlorophyll a, dry weight, ash, ash free dry weight, and periphyton diversity were analyzed. The growth of periphyton in terms of chlorophyll a value on different substrates has revealed a higher mean value for bamboo substrate (6.82 ± 2.79 µg/cm 2 ), followed by green shade net, HDPE, LDPE, and PVC with values of 5.24 ± 2.27 µg/cm 2 , 4.64 ± 2.06 µg/cm 2 , 4.51 ± 2.08 µg/cm 2 , and 3.10 ± 1.57 µg/cm 2 , respectively. The mean values of dry weight recorded were 1.81 ± 0.78 mg/cm 2 , 1.65 ± 0.70 mg/cm 2 , 1.29 ± 0.56 mg/cm 2 , 1.32 ± 0.57 mg/cm 2 , and 0.78 ± 0.45 mg/cm 2 for SBP, GSN, LDPE, HDPE, and PVC substrates, respectively. In all substrates, there was a significant difference observed in the development of periphyton over time (p < 0.05). There was no significance (p > 0.05) observed in Chlorophyll a value with depth in all 5 different substrates.

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

“…Bamboo is easy to obtain and widely used in the cultivation environment, expected to reduce the need for cultivation activities. In addition, bamboo is utilized as a substrate for periphyton growth because of its ability to produce high-quality periphyton, availability in the tropics, ease of use, and durability (Amirtharaja et al 2022).…”