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A Note on Abiotic Factors that Constrain Periphyton Growth in Alpine Glacier Streams
Author(s) -
Rinke Karsten,
Robinson Christopher T.,
Uehlinger Urs
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(200106)86:3<361::aid-iroh361>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - periphyton , streams , abiotic component , chlorophyll a , nutrient , glacier , environmental science , chlorophyll , glacial period , nitrate , hydrology (agriculture) , chemistry , environmental chemistry , ecology , geology , botany , biology , geomorphology , computer network , geotechnical engineering , computer science
Periphyton growth limitation experiments were conducted in five glacier streams during the main ice melt period in late summer using nutrient diffusing substrata (NDS) that contained nitrate and/or phosphate. Periphyton net growth was determined as chlorophyll a accrual after an exposure time of 4 weeks. In addition, primary water chemistry and physical parameters of the study streams were measured. These chemical and physical parameters characterised the sites as kryal (glacial) systems. Neither nutrient limitation nor a significant correlation between water chemistry and physical data and chlorophyll a values were apparent. A comparison between current velocity and ln‐transformed chlorophyll a values revealed a typical optimum curve with highest periphyton accrual at 0.5 m s –1 on NDS. During the summer ablation period, the net growth of periphyton in these glacial streams appeared to be controlled primarily by current velocity.