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Relations between suspended bacteria, epiphytic bacteria and submerged vegetation over the spring growing season in a calcareous headstream
Author(s) -
RIMES CARRIE A.,
GOULDER R.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1987.tb01049.x
Subject(s) - epiphyte , vegetation (pathology) , bacteria , dry weight , environmental science , ecology , botany , biology , genetics , pathology , medicine
SUMMARY. 1. Quantitative observations on suspended bacteria, epiphytic bacteria and submerged vegetation, in a calcareous headstream in North Humberside, were made at regular intervals from January to June 1984. 2. Downstream increase in concentration of suspended bacteria was observed along a 135 m richly‐vegetated section but not over a 150 m vegetation‐free section, hence there was measurable drift loss of bacteria only from within the vegetated section. 3. The total number of epiphytic bacteria within the vegetated section was estimated from the density of epiphytic bacteria per unit dry weight of submerged vegetation and the total dry weight of submerged vegetation. 4. The total number of epiphytic baeteria within the vegetated section decreased frtim 2.5 × 10 15 in January to 0.8 × l0 15 March before increasing to 4.7 × 10 15 by June. This pattern was related to deerease and subsequent increase in density of epiphytic bacteria per unit dry weight of vegetation. The total dry weight of submerged vegetation inereased throughout the study period. 5. The daily drift loss of bacteria from the vegetated section averaged 53% (range 9–132%) of the total epiphytic bacteria, a loss rate which might reasonably be supported by the epiphyte population. 6. The dimensions and volume of suspended bacteria increased, between the source and the downstream limit of the vegetated section, to resemble those of epiphytic bacteria. 7. The results suggested that released epiphytic bacteria might largely be the source of suspended bacteria in this headstream.