periphyton in springs what do we know?. periphyton? attached to anything under water ☼ algae ☼...

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Periphyton in Springs What do we know?

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Periphyton in Springs What do we know? Slide 2 Periphyton? attached to anything under water Algae cyano-bacteria (blue-green algae) bacteria decaying material Slide 3 Periphyton background Term coined in 1920s by Russian limnologist. May not be the appropriate term when only talking about algae. Benthic algae is the more appropriate term. Slide 4 Benthic Algae- Primary producer This means they use nutrients and sunlight to grow. So, if you were a scientist looking at benthic algae in springs You would probably look at a relationship between primary producers, nutrients, and light Slide 5 The 1 st Characterization L.A. Whitford (N.C. State Univ.) The Communities of Algae in the Springs and Spring Streams of Florida (1956) Characterized the first algal communities in Florida springs Collected for > 3 years at 30 different springs Slide 6 What Whitford found?? Benthic algae make by far the major portion of the algal flora in both spring and run Slide 7 What Whitford found The most prevalent community in springs are the diatoms that are not only attached to underwater surfaces, but also free living in the mats of attached algae. Slide 8 What Whitford found What is the benthic algae relationship to water chemistry Nitrate has no apparent effect on the flora. Carbon dioxide and oxygen seem to have little effect on community except when oxygen is depleted. Slide 9 What Whitford found What habitat factors are important to benthic algae? Next to light, current is the most important. In current, the constant renewal of minerals and gases at the plants surface is emphasized. Slide 10 1 st study on primary production in FL Springs Howard T. Odum (University of Florida-2002) Primary Production Measurements in Eleven Florida Springs and a Marine Turtle-Grass Community (1957) Calculated primary production on springs by measuring oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the day just below the spring boil. Slide 11 Odum found that Carbon-dioxide, nitrogen, and phosphorus suggests no correlation with the primary production. Light is the most important factor controlling production. that permanently fixed benthic algal communities are like pine trees on land (Rabinowitch 1951) are sun tolerant at high light intensities Slide 12 After the Gap In 1995, there was another look at what is living in springs. Description of Benthic Communities in Karst, Spring-Fed Streams of North Florida Mattson, et. al. Systems of the lower Suwannee and lower Sante Fe are dominated by diatoms. Slide 13 Nutrients & benthic algae Nutrient Limitation of Periphyton in a Spring-Fed, Coastal Stream in Florida, USA Mean periphyton biomass in g chl/cm2 by treatment type Notenstein, et al. (UF) 2003 Periphyton, Phosphorus This means that phosphorus is the nutrient that most affected algal growth Slide 14 Nutrients & benthic algae 2003 -2004 PBS&J, SRWMD, & Notenstein, et.al. Mapping and Monitoring Submerged Aquatic Vegetation in Ichetucknee Springs 2004 Slide 15 In the River In the feeder springs Periphyton & nutrient No significant relationship between Nutrients not in short supply Periphyton Phosphorus Slide 16 Remember Whitman & Odum Current constantly renews nutrients so that there is no real deficit Slide 17 Nutrients & benthic algae Series of spring studies 2004-2007 (UF) Ecological Conditions of Algae and Nutrients in Florida Springs: A Synthesis Report Stevenson, et Al. (2007) 29 freshwater Springs: 1 st magnitude (64.6 mgd or more) 2 nd magnitude (6.46 64.6 mgd) Wide range of water nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations Slide 18 Slide 19 Slide 20 Stevenson et. Al. overview Algae mat type Physical/chemical factor Relationship Vaucheria abundance Nitrogen (in the water) mat growth Phosphorus (in the water) mat growth Lyngbya abundance sediment phosphorus mat growth Lyngbya abundance Human disturbance Within 1000m of site mat growth Lyngbya abundanceLight mat growth Lyngbya abundanceConductivity (100-1000 uS) mat growth Lyngbya abundanceIron (20-200 ug) mat growth Slide 21 Stevenson et. Al overview Algae mat type Physical/chemical factor Relationship Lyngbya abundanceNitrogen (in the water)Not related Phosphorus (in the water)Not related Lyngbya abundance Conductivity (>3000uS) mat growth Lyngbya abundance Iron (600ug) mat growth Overal algal mat abundance Flooding mat growth Slide 22 Bugs & benthic algae Environmental Factors Affecting Aquatic Invertebrate Community Structure on Snags in the Ichetucknee river, Florida Nancy Marie Steigerwalt (UF, thesis, 2008) Algae living on the woody debris increases the surface area for the invertebrate habitat. Slide 23 Bugs & benthic algae Relationships Between Benthic Algae and Macroinvertebrate Communities inFlorida Spring Run Streams Robert Mattson, SJWMD (2007) Slide 24 Rob Mattson found In general, more of a negative consequence to macroinvertebrate communities from the increased algal growth in springs and spring streams than positive. Slide 25 Snails & benthic algae Oxygen Mediated Grazing Impacts In Florida Springs Kristen Dormjo (UF, thesis, 2007) Grazing impacts on algae from the snail, Elimia floridensis http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu Slide 26 Snails & benthic aglae In the river in combination with some other factor(s) is responsible for controlling periphyton growth Slide 27 Snails & benthic aglae In the feeder spring/ runs no regulatory effect on periphyton Other snails inhabit feeder springs Affects on algal growth not measured in this study Slide 28 Other factors & benthic algae Factors Affecting Periphyton Abundance on Macrophytes in a Spring-Fed River in Florida Vincent Politano (UF, thesis, 2008) Ichetucknee River and feeder springs Slide 29 Other factors & benthic algae Dissolved oxygen Periphyton Stream velocity Periphyton Slide 30 Current benthic algal research Dina M. Liebowitz, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Matthew J. Cohen, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL James B. Heffernan, Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL Thomas K. Frazer, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Slide 31 Current benthic algal research recent DO decreases in springs due to interactions of climatic variation and consumptive use. The DO-grazer hypothesis Entire grazer community Algal biomass Chemical and seasonal variability Slide 32 Current benthic algal research Synoptic ecosystem study on 12 Florida springs Conducted by Wetland Solutions, Inc. Sponsored by: Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission With support from Department of Environmental Protection St. Johns River Water Management District Southwest Florida Water Management District Three Rivers Trust, Inc. Slide 33 References Dormsjo, K. (2008). Oxygen mediated grazing impacts in Florida springs. Unpublished Master thesis. University of Florida, Gainseville, FL. Mattson, R.A. (2007). Relationships between benthic algae and macroinvertebrate communities in Florida spring run streams. St. Johns River Water Mngmnt. Dist. Mattson, R.A., Epler, John H., Hein, Michael K. (1995). Description of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in karst, spring-fed systems in northcentral Florida. J. Kansas Ent. Soc., 68(2), 18-41. Odum, Howard T. (1957). Primary Production Measurements in Eleven Florida Springs and a Marine Turtle-Grass Community. Limn. and Oceano., 2(2):85-97. Politano, Vincent (2008). Factors affecting periphyton abundance on macrophytes in a spring-fed river in Florida. Master thesis. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Stevenson, R.J., Pinowska, A., Albertin, A, & Sickman, J. (2007). Ecological Condition of algae and nutrients in Florida springs: The synthesis report. Submitted to FL Dept. Environ. Protect., Tallahassee, FL. http://www.floridadep.org/labs/library/springs.htm. Whitford, L.A. (1956). The communities of Algae in the springs and spring streams of Florida. Ecology. 37(3), 433-442.