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Effects of turbulence on growth and metabolism of periphyton in a laboratory flume
Author(s) -
Hondzo Miki,
Wang Hong
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2002wr001409
Subject(s) - periphyton , flume , chlorophyll a , photosynthesis , chlorophyll , environmental science , nutrient , chemistry , flow (mathematics) , botany , ecology , biology , mechanics , physics
Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of fluid motion on the growth and metabolism of the freshwater periphyton Spirogyra and Stigeocloniom . The only growth‐limiting factor was the effect of fluid motion; all the other environmental conditions, such as light, temperature, and nutrients were not limiting growth. The growth rates of periphyton were measured in terms of the chlorophyll‐ a concentration, and the metabolism was characterized by dissolved oxygen concentration measurements. The periphyton growth and corresponding photosynthetic rates were the lowest in a stagnant fluid. In a moving fluid the periphyton growth was mediated by the fluid flow conditions at the channel bottom. The results indicate critical conditions, corresponding to the detachment of periphyton in the channel bed. A functional dependence between the periphyton detachment and fluid flow conditions is proposed.