Periphyton Function in Lake Ecosystems

Abstract

Periphyton communities have received relatively little attention in lake ecosystems. However, evidence is increasing that they play a key role in primary productivity, nutrient cycling, and food web interactions. This review summarizes those findings and places them in a conceptual framework to evaluate the functional importance of periphyton in lakes. The role of periphyton is conceptualized based on a spatial hierarchy. At the coarsest scale, landscape properties such as lake morphometry, influence the amount of available habitat for periphyton growth. Watershed-related properties, such as loading of dissolved organic matter, nutrients, and sediments influence light availability and hence periphyton productivity. At the finer scale of within the lake, both habitat availability and habitat type affect periphyton growth and abundance. In addition, periphyton and phytoplankton compete for available resources at the within-lake scale. Our review indicates that periphyton plays an important functional role in lake nutrient cycles and food webs, especially under such conditions as relatively shallow depths, nutrient-poor conditions, or high water-column transparency. We recommend more studies assessing periphyton function across a spectrum of lake morphometry and trophic conditions.

Influence of substratum surface roughness on periphytic algal community structure in a shallow tropical reservoir

“…The resources availability (light and nutrients) is considered the most important factor in determining the periphytic algae structure (Vadeboncoeur and Steinman, 2002), while the substrate type can be a secondary factor (e.g. Rodrigues and Bicudo, 2001).…”

Ecological impacts of winter water level drawdowns on lake littoral zones: a review

“…For example, species from the macroalgal genus Chara can proliferate via desiccation and freezing resistant oospore sediment banks (Havens et al 2004), dominating the drawdown exposure zone during spring and summer months (Wagner and Falter 2002). Benthic algae grow on a variety of substrates that include macrophytes, wood, and a range of sediment textures (Vadeboncoeur and Steinman 2002), which differ in substrate-specific algal productivity (Vadeboncoeur et al 2006). Where winter drawdowns decrease macrophytes and fine sediment, it is possible that epiphytic, epipelic, and episammatic algae will be reduced.…”

Influence of light and temperature on the development and denitrification potential of periphytic biofilms

“…Periphytic biofilms are commonly presented in many aquatic ecosystems such as ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, and oceans, and play a significant role in primary production, food web interaction, carbon and nutrient recycling (Battin et al, 2016;Larned, 2010;Vadeboncoeur and Steinman, 2002). In recent years, there is growing research interests in utilizing natural periphytic biofilms in wastewater treatment, nonpoint source pollution control, and remediation of polluted waters (Furey et al, 2016;Wu et al, 2014).…”