Floating meadow epiphyton: biological and chemical features of epiphytic material in an Amazon floodplain lake

Engle, Diana L.; Mélack, John M.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.1989.tb01120.x

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…However, attached algae are often abundant on submersed surfaces of vascular plants. Studies in the Amazon floodplain have demonstrated that epiphytic microalgae in floating grass mats can have high productivity (Engle and Melack 1990;Doyle 1991).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Oxygen depletion and carbon dioxide and methane production in waters of the Pantanal wetland of Brazil

1995

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Abstract. This study examines dissolved 02, CO2 and CH4 in waters of the Pantanal, a vast savanna floodplain in Brazil. Measurementsare presented for 540 samples from throughout the region, ranging from areas of sheet flooding to sluggish marsh streams to the major rivers of the region. Dissolved 02 is often strongly depleted, particularly in waters filled with emergent vascular plants, which are the most extensive aquatic environment of the region. Median Or concentrations were 35 PM for vegetated waters, 116 PM for the Paraguay River, 95 PM for tributary rivers, and 165 ,uM for open lakes (atmospheric equilibrium, 230-290 PM). Airwater diffusive fluxes were calculated from dissolved gas concentrations for representative vegetated floodplain waters, based on data collected over the course of an annual cycle. These fluxes reveal about twice as much CO2 evasion as can be accounted for by invasion of 02 (overall means in nmol cm-= s-': 02 0.18, CO2 0.34, and CH4 0.017). Methanogenesis is estimated to account for ca. 20% of the total heterotrophic metabolism in the water column and sediments, with the remainder likely due mostly to aerobic respiration. Anaerobic respiration is limited by the low concentrations of alternate electron acceptors. We hypothesize that 02 transported through the stems of emergent plants is consumed in aerobic respiration by plant tissues or microorganisms, producing CO2 that preferentially dissolves into the water, and thus explaining most of the excess CO2 evasion. This hypothesis is supported by measurements of gases in submersed stems of emergent plants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Oxygen depletion and carbon dioxide and methane production in waters of the Pantanal wetland of Brazil

1995

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“…However, their light penetration data indicate an extinction coefficient of 2.4. Engle and Melack (1990) reported average daily irradiance of 20-25 Einst mm2 at a nearby location. Thus, the average column irradiance of 6.1 Einst m-2 d-l is strongly suggestive of light limitation for Jacaretinga.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recognition of nutrient and light limitation in turbid mixed layers: Three approaches compared in the Parani floodplain (Argentina)

Carignan

Planas

1994

Limnol. Oceanogr.

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The potential difficulties of testing for nutrient limitation in turbid mixed layers are illustrated by comparing the outcome of three different approaches (in vitro bioassays, limnocorrals, and whole-lake fertilization)in the subtropical ParanL floodplain. Bioassays of the planktonic communities consistently suggested acute N limitation, no limitation, or P limitation, depending on the time at which we chose to terminate the experiment. Enclosures (17 m*) deployed in one lake indicated N limitation but increased sedimentation and water transparency in the enclosures. Although short-term bioassays consistently indicated limitation by N, whole-lake fertilization produced only a small and transient increase in chlorophyll a and primary production or no response at all. Some lakes are mildly limited by N during summer; others appear to be limited by light. In the latter, bioassays and whole-lake fertilization lead to inconsistent conclusions. A steady state model of phytoplankton biomass (as Chl a) under excess nutrient concentrations is proposed to facilitate the diagnosis of light limitation in shallow and turbid water bodies. Model predictions are consistent with mean column critical irradiance (PAR) of 1.6 MJ m-2 d-l (7.36 Einst m-2 d-l) previously reported for net phytoplankton growth in marine and freshwater systems.

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“…Contrary to epiphyton productivity, epiphyton biomass has been widely studied ( e.g ., Engle & Melack , Mccormick et al . ), especially in temperate ecosystems ( e.g ., Turner et al .…”

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confidence: 99%

The contribution of epiphyton to the primary production of tropical floodplain wetlands

et al. 2017

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Tropical floodplains are one of the most productive ecosystems on earth. Studies on floodplain productivity have primarily focused on trees and macrophytes, rather than algae, due to their greater biomass. However, epiphyton—algae and bacteria attached to the submerged portion of aquatic macrophytes—is a major source of energy in many tropical floodplains. Epiphyton productivity rates are unknown for most tropical floodplain wetlands, and spatial variability is not well understood. In this study, we measured primary productivity of epiphyton in Kakadu National Park in northern Australia. We estimated the relative contribution of epiphyton to aquatic production (epiphyton, + phytoplankton + macrophytes). We sampled sites dominated by different macrophyte structural types: vertical emerging grasses, horizontal emerging grasses, submerged macrophytes, and macrophytes with floating leaves. Epiphyton productivity was highly influenced by the structural type of the macrophyte. Highest potential productivity per weight was measured from epiphyton growing on macrophytes with floating leaves and horizontal grasses (1.52 ± 0.53 and 1.82 ± 0.61 mgC/dw g epiphyton/h, respectively) and lowest in submerged macrophytes and vertical grasses (0.57 ± 0.26 and 0.66 ± 0.47 mgC/dw g epiphyton/h, respectively). When considering the areal biomass of the macrophyte and the amount of epiphyton attached, epiphyton on horizontal grasses and submerged macrophytes had productivity values approximately ten times higher (45–219 mgC/m2/d) compared to those on vertical grasses and macrophytes with floating leaves (2–18 mgC/m2/d). Epiphyton contributed between 2 to 13 percent to the aquatic production of these tropical floodplain wetlands.

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Floating meadow epiphyton: biological and chemical features of epiphytic material in an Amazon floodplain lake

Cited by 17 publications

References 36 publications

Oxygen depletion and carbon dioxide and methane production in waters of the Pantanal wetland of Brazil

Oxygen depletion and carbon dioxide and methane production in waters of the Pantanal wetland of Brazil

Recognition of nutrient and light limitation in turbid mixed layers: Three approaches compared in the Parani floodplain (Argentina)

The contribution of epiphyton to the primary production of tropical floodplain wetlands

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