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Seasonal trends in river biofilm storage products and electron transport system activity
Author(s) -
BLENKLNSOPP SANDRA A.,
GABBOTT PETER A.,
FREEMAN CHRISTOPHER,
LOCK MAURICE A.
Publication year - 1991
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.1365-2427.1991.tb00505.x
Subject(s) - biofilm , environmental science , deposition (geology) , invertebrate , glycogen , environmental chemistry , chemistry , ecology , biology , bacteria , sediment , paleontology , biochemistry , genetics
SUMMARY. 1. Glycogen, poly‐beta‐hydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and electron transport system (ETS) activity levels were monitored seasonally in light‐ and dark‐grown biofilms from a North Wales river. 2. A spring peak was evident in glycogen, PHA and ETS activity levels per cm 2 and per cell, with the exception of PHA per cell, which peaked in the winter. 3. There was a seasonal shift in the type of storage product found, perhaps reflecting seasonal changes in carbon sources. 4. The light‐grown spring biofilm yielded the greatest amount of bio‐film storage products per cm 2 . This should be taken into account during caloric studies of river biofilms as a food source for grazing invertebrates. 5. A model is presented of factors influencing storage product deposition in river biofilms. The thickness and cell packing of river biofilms should be noted in future studies. Storage product deposition can occur deep within thick biofilms, irrespective of the river water chemistry.