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PRODUCTION AND NUTRIENT ACCUMULATION BY PERIPHYTON IN A WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY 1
Author(s) -
Davis Laurie S.,
Hoffmann James P.,
Cook Philip W.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/j.0022-3646.1990.00617.x
Subject(s) - periphyton , nutrient , biomass (ecology) , phosphorus , biology , zoology , sewage treatment , river ecosystem , productivity , wastewater , ecosystem , clarifier , agronomy , ecology , environmental science , environmental engineering , chemistry , macroeconomics , organic chemistry , economics
ABSTRACT Five growth experiments were conducted over a 15‐month period to quantify biomass, seasonal growth rates, and production of a periphyton community in the secondary clarifier of a wastewater treatment plant. A maximum periphyton biomass of 130 g·m −2 (ash‐free dry weight) was achieved during fall. Growth rates of approximately 0.23·d −1 (from chlorophyll a) were observed during spring, summer and fall. Winter values were also high (0.20·d −1 ). Maximum production was approximately 22 g·m −2 ·d −1 during spring. Periphyton phosphorus and nitrogen content was variable ranging from 0.4–2.4 and 4.4–15.1%, respectively. Estimated maximum removal rates of both nutrients were high (up to ∼ 160 mg P·m −2 ·d −1 and ∼ 1900 mg N·m −2 ·d −1 ). High productivity and nutrient removal rates in this lotic hypereutrophic ecosystem may warrant further investigation of periphyton as a tertiary biological wastewater treatment in cold climates.