The Influence of DOC Trends on Light Climate and Periphyton Biomass in the Ganga River, Varanasi, India

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Abstract

Investigations on periphyton along an eutrophication gradient (NO3 − = 0.23−0.96 mg L−1; PO 4 −3  = 0.16−0.86 mg L−1) of Ganga River indicated that benthic algal biomass decreased with increasing concentrations of nutrients and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Periphyton biomass showed negative relationship (R 2 = 0.98; p < 0.0001) with DOC and positive relationship (R 2 = 0.96; p < 0.0001) with Secchi depth. Sites with high DOC showed dominance of cyanophycean Phormidium uncinatum. The study shows that the rising concentration of DOC over time may alter the light climate and consequently the fate of benthic primary producers in Ganga River.

Keywords

Ganga River Dissolved organic carbon Light climate Nutrients Periphyton 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Botany, Faculty of Science and TechnologyMahatma Gandhi Kashividyapith UniversityVaranasiIndia

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