Initial colonization of periphyton on natural and artificial apices ofMyriophyllum heterophyllumMichx

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
SUMMARY.1. The initial colonization of periphyton on natural and artificial apices ofMyriophyllum heterophyllumMichx was compared at three depths in the littoral zone of Lake Winnipesaukee, a soft‐water New England lake. After a 1 week incubation period, the apices were sampled and the periphyton was removed and counted as numbers of periphyton organisms per centimetre of stem.2. Initial colonization on both substrates was characterized by diatoms, particularly small single‐celled species, throughout the spring and summer. Blue‐green and green algae occurred in low numbers on both substrates during mid‐summer, usually forming a greater percentage of the population of the natural apices. Blooms of the green algaZygnemasp. dominated both substrates in late August.3. Community composition generally did not differ significantly by depth or substrate on the natural and artificial apices: however, total abundance was significantly greater on the natural apices.M. heterophyllumappeared to serve as a neutral substrate in terms of community composition but had a positive effect on the total numbers of algae.