Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS01 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation and the Water Column (Environmental Connections)

Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2001, Time: 3:00:00 PM

Location: Galisteo

Pinowska, A, , BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY, BOWLING GREEN, USA, pinowa@bgnet.bgsu.edu

Lowe, R, L, BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY, BOWLING GREEN, USA, rlowe@umich.edu

Clason, T, A, PHILADELPHIA ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA, USA, clasonta@hotmail.com

Francoeur, S, N, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, TUSCALOOSA, USA, franc001@bama.ua.edu

INDIRECT STIMULATION OF EPIPHYTE GROWTH ON SUBMERGED MACROPHYTES BY SEDIMENT NUTRIENT ENRICHMENT: THE EXAMINATION OF POTAMOGETON RICHARDSONII EPIPHYTIC ALGAE

Macrophytes and epiphytic algae are important primary producers in lake littoral zones. During the summer peak growth nutrient levels in the water are low. Macrophytes transport nutrients from sediments to their tissues in the water column. These nutrients are later leached and can be taken up by epiphytic algae and bacteria. Potamogeton richardsonii cuttings were planted into pots with low or high sediment nutrient concentrations (LSNC and HSNC) and placed in Douglas Lake, Michigan at the depth of 3 meters. At the commencement of the experiment 1- to 4-week old leaves were individually collected and epiphyte alkaline phosphatase activity (APA), epiphyte chlorophyll a and Potamogeton richardsonii leaf phosphorus and nitrogen content were measured. Epiphytic algal density and taxonomy were also analyzed using LM and SEM. Epiphytes growing on plants in LSNC were more phosphorus limited (higher APA) and had lower biomass than those growing on plants in HSNC indicating indirect influence of sediment nutrients on epiphytes.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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