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INFLUENCE OF ZINC ON PERIPHYTIC COMMUNITIES
Author(s) -
Williams Louis G.,
Mount Donald I.
Publication year - 1965
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1965.tb06753.x
Subject(s) - zinc , biology , ecology , standing crop , biota , nutrient , botany , biomass (ecology) , chemistry , organic chemistry
The glass‐slide technique was used in a 14‐week study to show the effects of 4 concentrations of zinc on periphytic communities in 4 outdoor canals supplied with running pond water containing its natural biota. No species was found that could be considered an indicator of zinc. The effect of adding 1 mg/liter or more of zinc was to reduce the number of dominant species. A geometric regression of the average number of dominant algal species was found beginning with the control, with no added zinc, and proceeding from that to the largest concentration of zinc. A relatively large concentration of zinc resulted in comparatively low biotic diversity. Fungi and slime‐forming bacteria produced a large standing crop in the largest zinc concentration, apparently by digesting the killed incoming phytoplankters that were used as their food.