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THE RELATION OF PERIPHYTIC AND PLANKTONIC ALGAL GROWTH IN AN ESTUARY TO HYDROGRAPHIC FACTORS
Author(s) -
Welch Eugene B.,
Emery Richard M.,
Matsuda Robert I.,
Dawson William A.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1972.17.5.0731
Subject(s) - periphyton , estuary , phytoplankton , plankton , hydrography , algae , environmental science , oceanography , biomass (ecology) , nutrient , algal bloom , phosphorus , ecology , biology , chemistry , geology , organic chemistry
The seasonal periodicity of periphyton growth in the Duwamish estuary (Washington) is compared with that of phytoplankton and lends support to a previous conclusion that hydrographic conditions determine the timing of phytoplankton blooms despite high concentrations of dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus. Accumulation of periphyton on substrates increased in June and July to around 10 µ g Chl a cm−2 week −1 and is related to incident light; conversely, phytoplankton blooms were delayed until August and September when hydrographic conditions were optimum for biomass accumulations of from 30–70 µ g Chl a /liter. Maximum growth of periphytic and planktonic algae occurred at the same location in the estuary. This similarity in spatial distribution is not directly related to hydrographic conditions since the periphyton algae are sessile and more resistant to washout. The water in this section of the estuary presumably contained a more adequate supply of one or more limiting nutrients than water from adjacent locations.