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The effect of periphyton stoichiometry and light on biological phosphorus immobilization and release in streams

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Abstract

Periphyton stoichiometry can vary substantially as a result of differences in stream nutrient availability. A decrease in the periphyton carbon to phosphorus (C:P) ratio should decrease the demand for new P to be immobilized from stream water, but no studies to our knowledge have explored the relationship between periphyton stoichiometry and net P immobilization and release by periphyton. We sought to model biological P immobilization and release (flux) in streams by measuring periphyton stoichiometry and light availability. We measured P flux to and from intact periphyton on stream cobbles (20–100 mm diameter) in 1 L microcosms incubated with streamwater under variable light conditions. Net P immobilization occurred in 75% of microcosms, net P release occurred in only 5% of microcosms, and 20% of microcosms had neither net immobilization nor net release. When normalized to stream conditions, net P immobilization was highest when light availability was high (<60% canopy attenuation) and the periphyton C:P ratio was also high. In contrast, net P release occurred only when light availability was low (>60% canopy attenuation) and the periphyton C:P ratio was also low. A multiple regression model that included both periphyton stoichiometry and light availability from the growing season only, and the interaction term of these two variables, explained 99% of the variation in daily periphyton P flux observed in the study. These results indicate that in order to predict periphyton P immobilization, periphyton stoichiometry and light availability should be considered together. Furthermore, the results indicate that net P immobilization occurs even in very P-rich periphyton, which can act as a P sink when light availability is high.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA

    W. M. Drake, J. Thad Scott, Andrew Sharpley, Chris W. Rogers & Erin M. Grantz

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA

    Michelle Evans-White

  3. Arkansas Water Resource Center, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA

    Brian Haggard

Authors
  1. W. M. Drake
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  2. J. Thad Scott
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  3. Michelle Evans-White
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  4. Brian Haggard
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  5. Andrew Sharpley
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  6. Chris W. Rogers
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  7. Erin M. Grantz
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Correspondence to J. Thad Scott.

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Handling Editor: Hideyuki Doi.

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Drake, W.M., Scott, J.T., Evans-White, M. et al. The effect of periphyton stoichiometry and light on biological phosphorus immobilization and release in streams. Limnology 13, 97–106 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-011-0359-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-011-0359-z

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