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The Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation and Nutrient Additions on Periphyton Biomass and Composition in a Sub‐Alpine Lake (Castle Lake, USA)
Author(s) -
Carrick H.J.,
Brett M.T.,
Luecke C.,
Goldman C.R.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international review of hydrobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1522-2632
pISSN - 1434-2944
DOI - 10.1002/1522-2632(200104)86:2<147::aid-iroh147>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - periphyton , nutrient , environmental chemistry , algae , phosphorus , phytoplankton , biomass (ecology) , environmental science , ecology , biology , chemistry , organic chemistry
Rising levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) striking the Earth's surface have led to numerous studies assessing its inhibitory effects on phytoplankton and periphyton in aquatic systems. Mineral nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) have been shown to increase aspects of algal metabolism and compensate for UVR inhibition. An in situ substratum enrichment technique and UV shielding was used to assess the effects of nutrient additions on periphyton exposed to different levels of UVR in Castle Lake, California during July‐August, 1997. UV shielding had no effect on total periphyton biomass, but caused shifts in species composition. The dominant periphyton species, Anabaena circinalis RAB., demonstrated sensitivity to ambient levels of UV radiation possibly due to UV inhibition of N2 ‐fixation. Total diatom biovolume decreased when shielded from UVR. Phosphorus additions continually elicited an increase in periphyton biovolume at all levels of analysis. These results suggest an interaction between nutrient status/availability and UV sensitivity.