Everglades Periphyton: A Biogeochemical Perspective

Application of Biomarkers and Compound Specific Stable Isotopes for the Assessment of Hydrology as a Driver of Organic Matter Dynamics in the Everglades Ecosystem

“…In addition, a large variation in MMA concentrations and compositions was found within different freshwater sites. Within the SRS transect, higher MMA concentrations were observed in SRS2 and 3 compared with SRS1, in agreement with the higher primary productivity of periphyton in the central slough (SRS2, 3) compared with SRS1 (Gaiser et al, 2011). This could be caused by the nutrient level difference between the freshwater sites.…”

“…Within the diverse distribution of dominant higher plants, periphyton mats are widely distributed throughout this ecosystem (Gaiser et al, 2011;Hagerthey et al, 2011), blanketing shallow surface sediment and submerged plants, forming ubiquitous and important biomass component of the Florida Everglades ecosystem. Considered to be the primary ecosystem engineer, periphyton plays a critical role in forming the base of the food web (Belicka et al, 2012), stabilizing soil, sustaining the landscape mosaic, and generating oxygen gas in the water column (Gaiser et al, 2011).…”

“…Considered to be the primary ecosystem engineer, periphyton plays a critical role in forming the base of the food web (Belicka et al, 2012), stabilizing soil, sustaining the landscape mosaic, and generating oxygen gas in the water column (Gaiser et al, 2011). With negligible presence of free floating phytoplankton in the Everglades, most of the suspended particulate organic matter (POM) is present in the form of floc, or flocculent material, which consists of a non-consolidated layer of microorganisms (generally bacteria), organic (e.g., detritus) and inorganic particles (e.g., carbonate), and represents an important biogeochemical component controlling carbon and nutrient transport, food web dynamics, and other biogeochemical processes in this ecosystem .…”

“…Periphyton, often forming thick mats and blanketing shallow surface sediment and submerged plants, is a ubiquitous and important biomass component of the Florida Everglades ecosystem. Considered to be the primary ecosystem engineer, periphyton plays a critical role in stabilizing soil, sustaining the landscape mosaic, controlling local food webs, and generating oxygen gas in the water column (Gaiser et al, 2011). While periphyton is present primarily as benthic or floating mats, the presence of free floating phytoplankton in the Everglades is negligible.…”

“…The vegetation shifts along the Everglades landscape from tree islands with terrestrial trees and ferns, to sloughs (deeper water) with submerged (water lily) and emergent (spikerush) aquatic plants, to ridges (shallow water) with sawgrass dominated communities (Davis et al, 1994). Within this diverse distribution of dominant higher plant species, periphyton, an abundant calcareous mixture of cyanobacteria, diatoms and green algae (Gaiser et al, 2011;Hagerthey et al, 2011), is widely distributed throughout this ecosystem. Periphyton, often forming thick mats and blanketing shallow surface sediment and submerged plants, is a ubiquitous and important biomass component of the Florida Everglades ecosystem.…”