Title: Phosphorus release by submerged macrophytes: Significance to epiphyton and phytoplankton1,1
Abstract: The contribution of nine species of macrophytes to the phosphorus nutrition of their epiphytes and the rates of P release by Myriophyllum spicatum L. were measured in situ on fully labeled ( 32 P) plants. The epiphytes derived only 3.4–9.0% of their P from the supporting macrophyte, indicating that previously suggested macrophyte‐epiphyte nutrient interactions are of relatively minor importance. Although high diurnal P release rates ( x̄ = 3.24 µ g·g ‒1 ·h ‒1 ) were observed for the Myriophyllum ‐epiphyte complex, Myriophyllum accounted for only 9.9% (0.32 µ g·g −1 ·h −1 ) of the total P released: The Myriophyllum ‐derived P was, however, released in a highly available soluble form (minimum estimate: 60.3%). During the growing season, Myriophyllum thus appears to be principally important as a physical support for an active microbial community rather than as a P source to its epiphyton and surrounding waters.
Publication Year: 1982
Publication Date: 1982-05-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 139
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