Abstract
The objective of this study in River Atna, Norway, was to analyse the spatial and temporal variation in species composition and diversity of the periphyton community in a pristine sub-alpine / boreal watercourse. The variations in the biotic parameters were related to selected environmental factors. We addressed epilithic algae and species living epiphytic on epilithic algae and submerged bryophytes. The sampling sites were located in the alpine, northern boreal, and mid boreal biomes. There was considerable spatial variation in species composition and diversity. This variation showed close correlation with natural gradients in water temperature and nutrient concentration. Three or four periphyton community categories could be distinguished in terms of species composition, diversity, and environmental variables. At high altitudes (1150–740 m a.s.l.) in cold water temperatures and extremely low nutrient contents, there was very low species diversity, only including algae known from ultra oligothrophic cold waters, e.g. Scytonematopsis starmachii (cyanobacteria) and Klebshormidium rivulare (green algae). The second category, at medium altitudes (701-522 m a.s.l.), was characterised by somewhat higher water temperatures and nutrient contents, and the species diversity was higher. This category included algae known from somewhat richer waters, e.g. Stigonema mamillosum (cyanobacteria) and Zygnema spp. (green algae). The third category was located at approx. 522 m a.s.l., had low water temperatures, relatively high alkalinity, and was characterised by Tolypothrix distorta (cyanobacteria) and Ulothrix zonata (green algae). A possible fourth category was found in the lower part of the river (350 m a.s.l.), where periphyton was distinguished by high diversity. At the individual sampling localities, species diversity showed strong seasonal variation, but otherwise high temporal stability. Over the 12 years of observations, there was only a weak temporal trend; towards species initially occurring only at low altitudes and high nutrient content. The combination of high temporal stability and high spatial variability, correlating closely with environmental gradients, is the main reason why periphyton observations have become an important constituent in water quality assessment.
Key words
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Backhaus, D., 1968. Ökologische Untersuchungen an den Aufwuchsalgen der obersten Donau und ihrer Quellflüsse III. Die Algenverteilung und ihre Beziehungen zur Milieuofferte. Archiv für Hydrobiologie Supplement 34: 130–149.
Biggs, B. J. F., 1996. Patterns in benthic algae in streams. In Stevenson, R. J., M. L. Bothwell & R. L. Lowe (eds), Algal Ecology. Freshwater Benthic Ecosystems. Aquatic Ecology Series. Acadamic Press, San Diego, CA: 31–56.
Biggs B. J. F. & H. A. Thompson, 1995. Disturbance in stream periphyton by perturbations in shear stress: time to structural failure and differences in community resistance. Journal of Phycology 31: 233–241.
Blakar, I. A., 1994. Vannkvalitet. In Braadland, T. & J. Øvstedal (eds), FORSKREF Forsknings- og referansevassdrag. Årsrapport 1993. FORSKREF Rapport 1–1994: 33–39 (in Norwegian)
Blakar I. A., 1997. Vannkvalitet i Atna i 1994. In Fagerlund, K. H. & Ø. Grundt (eds), FORSKREF Forsknings- og referansevassdrag. Arsrapport 1994. FORSKREF Rapport nr. 01–1997: 29–35.
Blakar, I. A., & I. Digernes, 1989. Vannkvalitet i Atnavasssdraget. MVU-rapport nr. B56: 1–41 (in Norwegian).
Blakar, I. A. & I. Digernes, 1993. Vannkvalitet i Atnavassdraget, 1989–92. In Rosland, D. S. (ed.), FORSKREF Forskningsog referansevassdrag. State Pollution Authority, Oslo. Seminar Report 1–93: 23–30 (in Norwegian).
Blakar, I. A. & I. Digernes, 1999. Vannkvaliteten langs en høøydegradient i Atna (1996). In Grøstad, M. & K. H. Fagerlund (eds), FORSKREF Forsknings- og referansevassdrag. Årsrapport 1996. FORSKREF rapport nr. 01–1999: 32–40 (in Norwegian).
Bogen, J., 2004. Erosion and sediment yield in the Atna river basin. Hydrobiologia 521: 35–47.
Golubic, S., 1967. Algenvegetation der Felsen. Eine ökologische Algenstudie im dinarischen Karstgebiet. Die Binnengewässer 23: 1–188.
Henriksen, A., 1999. Tålegrenser i fjellomräder. Hva vet vi og hva bør vi vite? Naturens tälegrenser. Fagrapport nr. 101. NIVA rapport 4017: 1–87 (in Norwegian).
Hill, B. H., A. T. Herlihy, P. R. Kaufmann, J. R. Stevenson, F. H. McCormick & C.B. Johnson, 2000. Use of periphyton assemblage data as an index of biotic integrity. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 19: 50–67.
Hill, M. O., 1973. Reciprocal averaging - eigenvector method of ordination. Journal of Ecology 61: 237–244.
Israelsson, G., 1949. On some attached zygnemals and their significance in classifying streams. Botaniska Notiser 4, Lund, Sweden: 313–358.
Jarlman, A., E-A. Lindstrøm, P. Eloranta & R. Bengtsson, 1996. Nordic standard for assessment of environmental quality in running water. In Whitton, B. A. & E. Rott (eds), Use of Algae for Monitoring Rivers II. STUDIA, Innsbruck: 17–28.
Johansson, C., 1982. Attached algal vegetation in running waters of Jämtland, Sweden. Acta Phytogeographica Suecica 71, Uppsala, Sweden, 84 pp.
Kann, E., 1978. Systematik und Ökologie der Algen der österreichischer Bergbäche. Archiv für Hydrobiologie Supplement 53: 405–643.
Kelly, M., A. Cazaubon, E. Coring, A. Del’Uomo, L. Ector, B. Goldsmith, H. Guasch, J. Hürlimann, A. Jarlman, B. Kaweka, J. Kwandrans, R. Laugaste, E.-A. Lindstrøm, M. Leitao, P. Marvan, J. Padisak, E. Pipp, J. Prygiel, E. Rott, S. Sabater, H. van Dam & J. Vizinet, 1998. Recommendations for routine sampling of diatoms for water quality assessments in Europe. Journal of Applied Phycology 10: 215–224.
Knutzen, J., L. Lingsten, E.-A. Lindstrøm, T. S. Traaen & K. J. Aanes, 1980. Nasjonalt programme for overväking av vannresurser. Pilotprosjekt MålselvaBarduelva 1978. NIVA rapport 1187: 1–55 (in Norwegian).
Komárek, J. & K. Anagnostodis, 1999. Cyanoprocaryota, 1. Teil Chroococcales. Süsswasserflora von Mitteleuropa, 19. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Jena, 548 pp.
Kovácik, L. & J. Komárek, 1988. Scytomenatopsis starmachii, a new cyanophyte species from the high Tatra Mts. (Czecholovakia). Archiv für Hydrobiologie Supplement 80: 303–314.
Kwandrans, J., P. Eloranta & R. Bengtsson, 2002. Sötvattensrødalger i Sverige - en översikt och ett nyfynd. Svensk Botanisk Tidskrift 96(6): 274–280.
Lake, P. S., 2000. Disturbance, patchiness, and diversity in streams. Journal of the North American Bentological Society 19: 573592.
Lindstrøm, E.-A., 1989. Forsknings- og referansevassdrag Atna. Begroingsforhold i Atnavassdraget. MVU-rapport B54: 1–55.
Lindstrøm, E.-A., 1992. Tålegrenser for overflatevann. Fastsittende alger. Fagrapport 27. NIVA rapport 2805: 1–49 (in Norwegian).
Lindstrøm, E.-A., 1999. Attempts to assess biodiversity of epilithic algae in running water in Norway. In Prygiel, J., B. Whitton & J. Bukowska (eds), Use of Algae for Monitoring Rivers III, Douai, France: 253–260.
Lindstrøøm, E.-A., 2000. Fastsittende alger i rennende vann. En kunnskapsstatus om biologisk mangfold langs naturgitte og mennneskeskapte gradienter. Virkninger av forurensninger på biologisk mangfold. NIVA rapport 4303: 1–68 (in Norwegian).
Lindstrøm, E.-A. & S. W. Johansen, 1997. Forskref-vassdraget Atna. Begroingsobservasjoner i perioden 1986–95. NIVA rapport 3777: 1–67 (in Norwegian).
Lindstrøm, E.-A. & S. W. Johansen, 2001. Mengdemessig utvikling av algebegroing etter kalking - årsaker og effekter. Ars og datarapport for 1998, 1999 og 2000. NIVA rapport 4451: 1–59 (in Norwegian).
Lowe, R. L. & Y. Pan, 1996. Benthic algal communities as biological monitors. In Stevenson, R. J., M. L. Bothwell & R. L. Lowe (eds), Algal Ecology. Freshwater Benthic Ecosystems. Aquatic Ecology Series. Acadamic Press, San Diego, CA: 705–739.
Margaleff, R., 1960. Ideas for a synthetic approach to the ecology of running waters. Internationale Revue der Gesamten Hydrobiologie 45: 133–153.
Moen, A., 1998. Nasjonalatlas for Norge: Vegetasjon. Statens Kartverk, Hønefoss, 199 pp. (in Norwegian).
Mollenhauer, D., R. Bengtsson & E.-A. Lindstrøm, 1999. Macroscopic cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc: a neglected end endangered constituent of European inland aquatic biodiversity. European Journal of Phycology 34: 349–360.
Nordli, P. ø. & A. A. Grimenes, 2004. The climate of Atndalen. Hydrobiologia 521: 7–20.
Palmer, M. W. 1993. Putting things in even better order: the advantages of canonical correspondence analysis. Ecology 74: 2215–2230.
Pipp, E. & E. Rott, 1994. Bestimmung der ökologischen Wertigkeit von Fliesgewässern in Österreich nach dem Algenaufwuchs. Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie, Wien. Prosjekt 3117, 147 pp.
Prygiel, J., B. A. Whitton & J. Bukowska, 1999. Use of Algae for Monitoring Rivers III. Douai, France, 271 pp.
Rai, L. C. & J. P. Gaur, 1994. Algae and water pollution. Archiv für Hydrobiologie Beiheft 42: 1–304.
Rott, E., G. Hofmann, K. Pall, P. Pfiester & E. Pipp, 1997. Indikatorlisten für Aufwuchsalgen. Teil 1: Saprobielle Indikatoren. Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Wasserwirtschaftskataster, Wien, 73 pp.
Schmedtje, U. & A. Bauer, 1998. Tropiekartierung von aufwuchsund Makrophyten-dominierten Fliessgewässern. Bayerisches Landesamt für Wasserwirtschaft, München. Informationsberichte Heft 4/98, 501 pp. Selvig, E., 1992. Verdien av norsk vassdragsnatur i internasjonal sammenheng. Rapportserie fra SUM, serie A 1/92 Miljøstudier. University of Oslo, Norway, 172 pp.
SFT, 1998. Statlig program for forurensningsovervåking. Overvåking av langtransportert forurenset luft og nedbør. Arsrapport - Effekter 1997. SFT-rapport 748/98: 1–217 (in Norwegian).
Sjörs, H., 1967. Nordisk Växtgeografi. Bonniers, Stockholm, 220 pp.
Skuja, H., 1964. Grunzüge der Algenflora und Algenvegetation der Fjellgegenden um Abisko in Schwedish-Lappland. Nova Acta Regiae Societas Scientiarum Uppsaliensis, Serie IV, 18(3), 465 pp.
Sørensen, T., 1948. A method of establishing groups of equal amplitude in plant sociology based on similarity of species content. Biologiske Shifter 5, paper 4.
Stevenson, R. J., M. L. Bothwell & R. L. Lowe, 1996. Algal Ecology. Freshwater Benthic Ecosystems. Aquatic Ecology Series. Acadamic Press, San Diego, CA, 753 pp.
Stevenson, R. J. & Y. Pan, 1999. Assessing ecological conditions in rivers and streams with diatoms. In Stoermer, E. & J. P. Smol (eds), The Diatoms: Applications to Environmental and Earth Sciences. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK: 11–44.
Tolstoy, A. & W. Willen, 1997. Preliminär checklista över Makroalger i Sverige. Artdatabanken, SLU, Uppsala, 127 pp.
Tvede, A. M., 2004. Hydrology of Lake Atnsjøen and River Atna. Hydrobiologia 521: 21–34.
Vannote, R. L., G. W. Minshall, K. W. Cummins, J. R. Sedell & C. E. Cushing, 1980. The river continuum concept. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 37: 103–137.
Wallin, M., T. Wiederholm & R. K. Johnson, 2002. Guidance on establishing reference conditions and ecological status class boundaries for inland surface waters. 5th and final draft, version 2002–12-20. CIS Working Group 2.3 - REFCOND, 98 pp.
Wehr, J. D., 1979. Analysis of patterns in algal community structure in the North Alouette River watershed, British Columbia. MSc.Thesis, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., 120 pp.
Wehr, J. D., 1981. Analysis of seasonal succession of attached algae in a mountain stream, the North Alouette Rriver, British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Botany 59: 1465–1474.
Whitton, B. A., E. Rott & G. Friedrich, 1991. Use of Algae for Monitoring Rivers. Studia, Innsbruck, 193 pp.
Wickmann, L., 1937. Studien über die durch H-Stück-Bau der Membran angezeichneten Gattungen Microspora, Binuclearia, Ulotrichopsis und Tribonema. Pflanzenforschung 20, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena, 110 pp.
Wilson E. O., 1997. Introduction. In Reaka-Kudla, M. L., D. E. Wilson & E. O. Wilson (eds), Biodiversity II. Understanding and Protecting our Biological Resources. Washington, D.C., 551 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2004 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lindstrøm, EA., Johansen, S.W., Saloranta, T. (2004). Periphyton in running waters — long-term studies of natural variation. In: Sandlund, O.T., Aagaard, K. (eds) The Atna River: Studies in an Alpine—Boreal Watershed. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 177. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-2254-8_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-2254-8_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-6624-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-2254-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive