• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.554-562
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• 2008

To evaluate the limitation for epiphytic and planktonic algal growth, acid extractable inorganic phosphorus (AP), implying the luxury uptake phosphorus, was measured in five reed zones of Lake Biwa. The AP in epiphytic substances was 0.7 to 1.4 mg P surface stem $m^{-2}$ in summer and 1.2 to 2.8 mg P $m^{-2}$ in winter. On the other hand, the amount in planktonic substances was 1.4 to 5.7 mg P m -3 and 0.8 to 5.4 mg P $m^{-3}$ in both seasons. Contribution of AP in the epiphytic and planktonic phosphorus was 23 to 31% and 8 to 27% in summer, and 17 to 22% and 9 to 17% in winter. It suggests that in summer both epiphytic and planktonic algae had been luxuriously taken up phosphate into cells. The weight ratios of C : N : P were averaged 79 : 20 : 1 for the epiphytic substances and 81 : 12 : 1 for the particulate substances. On the other hand, the ratios without the luxurious phosphorus were 93 : 24 : 1 and 103 : 15 : 1, showing much higher values than the Redfield ratio. High ratio in the epiphytic substances indicates that the phosphorus is the limiting parameter, rather than nitrogen, regulating the growth of epiphytic algal populations.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.spc
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• pp.31-38
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• 2005

Diel change in urea decomposition activity of epiphytic algae on Phragmites stems and phytoplankton in a shallow littoral reed zone in the south basin of Lake Biwa was investigated with an in situ technique using $^{14}C$-labelled urea. The daily rates of urea decomposition (sum of urea carbon incorporation rate and $CO_2$ liberation rate) by epiphytic and planktonic algae were calculated as 180 ${\mu}$ mole urea surface shoot area $m^{-2}\;day^{-1}$ and 210 ${\mu}$ mole urea $m^{-3}\;day^{-1}$. The chlorophyll a specific urea decomposition rates of epiphytic and planktonic algae were 4.7 to 6.4 and 4.4 to 6.2 ${\mu}$ mole urea mg chl. $a^{-1}$ incubation $time^{-1}$ in daytime and 4.2 to 5.7 and 2.4 to 3.5 ${\mu}$ mole urea mg chl. $a^{-1}\;time^{-1}$ in nighttime, respectively. High values were obtained during 12:00 ${\sim}$ 18:00 and low values during 00:00 ${\sim}$ 06:00 for both epiphytic and planktonic algal communities. A clear diel periodicity in the urea decomposing activity of the planktonic algae was observed. The activity of the epiphytic algae, on the other hand, showed no destinctive variation during a day. The present results indicate that epiphytic algae are one of the significant urea decomposers in a reed zone, and that the diel patterns are quite difference between both algal communities.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.48-57
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• 2009

Primary production of epiphytic and planktonic algae in a shallow reed zone of a lagoon Nishinoko was investigated. Concentrations of nutrients varied widely horizontally and locally in the lagoon. It seems that the reed zone has a heterogeneous environment. The photosynthetic rates of epiphytic and planktonic algae were 7 to 14 mg C surface stem $m^{-2}hr^{-1}$ and 12 to $46mg\;Cm^{-3}hr^{-1}$, respectively. The areal primary production of epiphytic algae was estimated as 4 to $13mg\;Cm^{-2}hr^{-1}$ from the stem density of Phragmites and the water depth at each station. The production of phytoplankton, on the other hand, was 5 to $56mg\;Cm^{-2}hr^{-1}$. The contribution of epiphytic algae to total primary production averaged 53%, although the assimilation number was much lower than that of phytoplankton. The present results indicate that the epiphytic algae are one of the significant primary producers in the reed zone.