Periphyton is a whole community of living organisms that have organic dertitus and silt incorporated among the growth layer. Also living in the community layer are invertebrates, microscopic animals and even decomposer bacteria. There are literally thousands of different types of algae that compose the many, many different species that are able to live in the attached layer. The types of species present depend on the many various types of growing conditions. Each different condition will favor a different periphyton community. Periphyton and phytoplankton both comprise the aquatic food web. This primary production produces a lot of dissolved oxygen for the water where both forms of the algae are growing.
The conditions in the water body determine what type of periphyton grows there. The particular type of stuff growing on the rocks in Heidi's above picture is a unique group of periphyton that tolerates and grows well in the presence of the current concentration of blue pond dye and maybe the past use of algaecides that have eliminated other common species of periphyton such as green algae, filamentous algae, and diatoms.
Three very different types of periphyton from three very different ecosystems. Each one has a very different community of inhabitants.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 09/22/2510:57 AM.
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