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The Influence of Periphyton Biofilm on Phosphorus Migration in Sediments

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of periphyton biofilm on nutrient releases from sediments in ponds and lakes. The physico-chemical parameters in the overlying water, the TP content, and the P forms in the sediments and periphyton biofilm were measured. The results showed that (1) periphyton biofilm could change the physico-chemical indexes in the overlying water; furthermore, the periphyton biofilm influenced the release of N and P from sediments, and its extent of influence was closely related to the nutrient levels of the sediments. (2) The periphyton biofilms effectively reduced the concentrations of N and P in sediments with different nutritional levels (P < 0.05). The average daily TN removal rates were 52% and 25% in the pond and lake microcosms, respectively, and the average daily TP removal rates were 1.06% and 20.9% in the pond and lake microcosms, respectively. This result suggested that periphyton biofilms acted as biological buffers for nutrient cycling between sediments and overlying water; these buffering effects were mainly through the absorption, filtration, and precipitation of nutrients. (3) The TP content and P forms of the periphyton biofilm were different between the pond and lake microcosms, which indicated that the P forms of the periphyton biofilm were potentially influenced by the nutritional levels of the sediments.

Article Highlights

  • There are different in the influence of periphyton biofilm on nutrient releases from sediments in ponds and lakes.

  • Periphyton biofilm could change the physico-chemical indexes in the overlying water; furthermore, the periphyton biofilm influenced the release of N and P from sediments, and its extent of influence was closely related to the nutrient levels of the sediments.

  • The TP content and P forms of the periphyton biofilm were different between the pond and lake microcosms.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (grant number 30970550), “the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities”, the South-central University for Nationalities (Grant Number czy18019) ,and the Major Technological Innovation of Hubei Province of China (Grant No.2018ABA093).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Protection and Application of Special Plant Germplasm in Wuling Area of China, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, 430074, People’s Republic of China

    Zhiyong Yi, Ying Yang, Chunlan Yan & Guofeng Pei

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  1. Zhiyong Yi
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  2. Ying Yang
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  3. Chunlan Yan
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  4. Guofeng Pei
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Correspondence to Guofeng Pei.

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Yi, Z., Yang, Y., Yan, C. et al. The Influence of Periphyton Biofilm on Phosphorus Migration in Sediments. Int J Environ Res 13, 327–335 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-019-00182-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-019-00182-z

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