Periphyton biomass response to changing phosphorus concentrations in a nutrient-impacted river: a new methodology for phosphorus target setting

M. Bowes, Jim Smith, J. Hilton, M. Sturt, P. Armitage

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Nutrient modification experiments were conducted in streamside flumes to determine the concentration at which P limits algal growth in the mesotrophic River Frome, Dorset, UK. The soluble reactive P (SRP) concentration in each flume was either increased (by P addition), decreased (by precipitating P with iron(II) sulphate solution), or left unaltered (control), producing SRP concentrations ranging from 32 to 420 µ·L–1. Increasing the ambient SRP concentration did not increase epilithic algal growth, showing that the River Frome was not P limited at 109 µ SRP·L–1. In the P-stripped flumes, algal biomass declined as the SRP concentration fell below ~90 µ·L–1, with a 60% biomass reduction at
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)227-238
    Number of pages12
    JournalCanadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
    Volume64
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2007

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