Structure and succession of periphyton in an urban reservoir: artificial substrate specificity

Abstract

Substrate specificity of the periphyton community is usually underestimated in both periphyton ecology and biomonitoring studies, thus different kinds of both natural and artificial substrates (of organic and inorganic origin) are employed. Periphyton colonization and successional trajectories are particularly debatable processes when different kinds of substrates are considered. In our field experiment, we deployed four kinds of artificial substrates (two inorganic ones – glass and ceramic, and two organic ones – willow and yew wooden tiles) for the development of periphyton in an urban reservoir referred to as Lake Savsko (Belgrade, Serbia). We comparatively investigated the structure, colonization process, diversity and successional trajectories of periphyton. We also assessed the relationship between the dynamics of algae growth forms (ecological groups) on different substrates and selected abiotic limnological factors. Our objective was to determine whether the type of substrate affects periphyton characteristics at various levels and whether an artificial substrate potentially affects the bioindication capacity of ecological groups. We concluded that all substrates behave similarly at the level of structure and colonization phases, but when considering diversity and successional trajectories, the substrate specificity was demonstrated. Our results suggest that communities developed on inert substrates (glass and ceramic) could provide more realistic insight into complex environmental changes.

Phosphorus and metals immobilization by periphyton in a shallow eutrophic reservoir

“…F. unpublished data). The low algal biomass in the periphyton is commonly associated with the strong shading caused by phytoplankton bloom in eutrophic reservoirs (Borduqui and Ferragut, 2012;Trbojević et al, 2017). Light can increase accumulative effects of metals in the periphyton due to the relationship between metal absorption and photosynthesis, which may be a result of active absorption, cation exchange adsorption or precipitation (Gray & Hill, 1995;Bere et al, 2012).…”

Substrate type selection in diatom based lake water quality assessment

“…The Sava Lake is a shallow urban reservoir (44°47 0 02.28 00 N, 20°23 0 25.64 00 E; 73 m a.s.l) formed in 1967 by embanking Sava river arm. Water volume of Sava Lake is about 4 000 000 m 3 , average depth is 4.5 m (maximum recorded 12 m), it is about 4.4 km long and about 250 m wide (Trbojević et al, 2017, 2019. Sava Lake is located in Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia.…”

“…Sava Lake is located in Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia. It serves in supplying drinking water (by means of bank filtration) to Belgrade citizens, and it is extensively used for recreational activities, especially during the summer months, when many cafes and restaurants host visitors near the lake shore (Trbojević et al, 2017(Trbojević et al, , 2019. In Serbia, the Belgrade region, and Sava Lake, a moderate continental climate is predominant, but climate change effects in recent years are evident.…”

“…The collected material was acid treated (Taylor et al, 2005) and mounted on Naphrax ® for diatom permanent slides preparation. Sampling design and sample processing are described in detail in Trbojević (2018) and Trbojević et al (2017). Diatom taxonomic analyses and quantification (relative abundance) by counting at least 400 valves at each permanent slide were performed using a Carl Zeiss AxioImager.…”

Dinâmica sucessional das classes taxonômicas e grupos funcionais ficoperifí­ticos em uma represa subtropical

“…Além disso, constitui um importante depósito de carbono orgânico, nitrogênio e fósforo, sendo capaz de capturar e assimilar outros componentes reduzindo suas concentrações disponíveis na água (SAIKIA, 2011), o que também a torna um importante bioindicador de qualidade ecológica da água (MCCORMICK; STEVENSON, 1998;MONTUELLE et al, 2010;LOBO, 2013;DENICOLA;KELLY, 2014). Ademais, participa da cadeia trófica, como um importante componente na alimentação de organismos aquáticos, como peixes, insetos e invertebrados bentônicos, já que a comunidade é rica principalmente em proteínas (VADEBONCOEUR; STEINMAN, 2002).…”